Kraft, Mayer Sign Extensions, Now Among NFL's Top-Paid Tight Ends

Negotiations between the Green Bay Packers and tight end Tucker Kraft went down to the wire, but the sides agreed on a contract extension just in time for the start of the 2026 season. Kraft will sign a four-year, $75 million extension to become the NFL's third-highest-paid tight end on a per-year basis, according to ESPN.

The contract carries an average annual value of $18.75 million, which ranks just behind that of San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle and Arizona Cardinals standout Trey McBride . Incentives can make the deal worth up to $92 million, and it comes with a $26.5 million signing bonus.

Kraft has been among the most pleasant surprises from the middle rounds of the 2023  NFL Draft  class. The third-rounder made an impact as a rookie but fully broke out in his second year when he became an every-week starter and amassed 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. A torn ACL cut his 2025 campaign short after just eight games, but he was well on his way to setting new career highs in every category, as he was on pace for more than 60 catches, 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Tucker Kraft 2025 season, NFL TE ranks Weeks 1-9 NFL TE ranks Weeks 1-9

Catches

32

T-10th

Receiving yards

489

3rd

Yards per reception

15.3

1st

Receiving touchdowns

6

T-2nd

Yards after catch

344

1st

The torrid start to Kraft's career places him in rare company. He joined Rob Gronkowski and Mark Andrews as just the third tight end this century to tally 100 catches, 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns over his first three NFL seasons.

Packers invest in young core

Kraft joins a slew of players the Packers have taken care of contractually this offseason. Green Bay extended wide receiver  Christian Watson  (four years, $92 million deal), wide receiver  Jayden Reed  (three years, $50.25 million) and defensive tackle  Devonte Wyatt  (three years, $54.9 million) as well. It is clear general manager Brian Gutekunst feels his young nucleus has what it takes to make a leap toward  Super Bowl  contention as they continue to develop around quarterback Jordan Love and All-Pro edge rusher  Micah Parsons .

Why did Green Bay prioritize getting a deal done with Kraft before he could fully show what he can do fresh off a torn ACL?

They did so because Kraft began showing signs of evolving into one of the league's best prior to his injury. Among his statistical achievements was the averaging of whopping 9.1 yards after catch per reception in 2025, the most among tight ends in the last 15 seasons, minimum 100 catches. San Francisco 49ers All-Pro George Kittle is the next closest player in this metric with a 6.9 yards after catch per reception average.

Michael Mayer also lands sizable extension

Saturday was a great day to be a high-performing tight end. Moments after Kraft secured his extension, the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to terms with Michael Mayer on a deal of his own. The team announced a multi-year extension with the 2023 second-round draft pick which, according to ESPN/NFL Media , covers three years and is worth $45 million with $30 million guaranteed.

While Mayer is only the No. 2 tight end on the Raiders' roster behind Brock Bowers , the $15 million average annual value is the fourth-largest at the position. It is also the biggest three-year deal for a tight end in NFL history. He is set to take on a sizable workload over the first few weeks of the season while Bowers recovers from a meniscus trim , which he underwent on Tuesday.

Mayer is more than capable of keeping the Raiders' offense afloat while Bowers is on the mend. He already has 32 starts under his belt and boasts 83 career receptions for 788 yards and three touchdowns, and a meaningful amount of that production came last year when Bowers missed five games with knee issues.

NFL's highest-paid tight ends

Player Team AAV

George Kittle

49ers

$19.1 million

Trey McBride

Cardinals

$19 million

Tucker Kraft

Packers

$18.75 million

Kyle Pitts

Falcons

$17.67 million

Michael Mayer

Raiders

$15 million

Isaiah Likely

Giants

$13.33 million

There was some thought that Kraft could reset the tight end market when he eventually secured his first massive contract, but while the deal places him in the top tier of earners at the position, the market still awaits its first $20 million salary. None of Kraft, Mayer or even Atlanta Falcons All-Pro Kyle Pitts cracked that barrier. Pitts' deal earlier in the offseason did, however, set a position record for guaranteed money at $36 million.

If a tight end is to finally break that $20 million threshold, it could be either Bowers or Detroit Lions weapon Sam LaPorta , who are next in line to receive life-changing money.

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_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/tucker-kraft-agrees-to-contract-extension-packers/)._