Tucker Kraft, Michael Mayer join highest-paid tight ends with contract extensions

Key Points:

• The Green Bay Packers have signed tight end Tucker Kraft to a four-year, $75 million contract extension with potential incentives raising the total to $92 million, making him the NFL's third-highest-paid tight end by average annual value at $18.75 million.
• Kraft, a 2023 third-round draft pick, showed significant improvement in his second season with 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns before a torn ACL cut his 2025 season short; he ranks among elite tight ends with over 100 catches, 1,500 yards, and 15 touchdowns in his first three seasons.
• The Packers have also extended contracts for key young players including wide receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, signaling confidence in their young core as they build around quarterback Jordan Love.
• On the same day, the Las Vegas Raiders signed tight end Michael Mayer to a three-year, $45 million extension, the largest three-year deal for a tight end in NFL history, with an average annual value of $15 million.
• Despite these high-value contracts, the NFL tight end market has yet to reach a $20 million annual salary, with George Kittle and Trey McBride leading the position at $19.1 million and $19 million per year, respectively.