GREEN BAY, Wis. — The dust has barely settled on the 2025 season, but the front office at 1265 Lombardi Avenue doesn’t have the luxury of an offseason. While the immediate focus is on the free agents hitting the market next month, a far more dangerous financial storm is brewing on the horizon.
The 2026 season represents the final stand for a massive chunk of the roster. We are talking about the core of the team—the 2022 and 2023 draft classes—who are set to hit unrestricted free agency in March 2027. If Green Bay doesn’t start printing money soon, the roster churn next year could be catastrophic.
Here is the hard truth about the 13 key players entering their contract years.
The Elephant in the Room: Elgton Jenkins
Let’s rip the band-aid off: Elgton Jenkins might not even make it to Week 1. Carrying a salary-cap charge north of $24.33 million with an $18.5 million base salary, Jenkins is a walking target for a front office desperate to get under the cap. The $19.53 million in savings if he’s released is simply too large to ignore.
The transition from guard to center didn’t work. It’s that simple. Before his season-ending injury, the 30-year-old ranked 22nd in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency among centers. That’s not elite production. If he stays, he needs a massive bounce-back. If he goes, he instantly becomes the top guard on the open market.
The Receiver Room: A Ticking Time Bomb
Christian Watson: The $11 Million Gamble
Christian Watson’s career has been a rollercoaster of brilliance and brittle luck. After tearing his ACL in Week 18 of 2024, the Packers handed him a one-year, $11 million “prove-it” extension. It looked like a steal when he returned for 10 games in 2025, racking up 611 yards and six touchdowns.
Watson’s efficiency is frightening—he ranked second among receivers with 17.5 yards per catch. But the question remains: Can he stay on the field for a full 17-game slate? If he hits 1,000 yards in 2026, his price tag will skyrocket.
Jayden Reed: The Slot Machine
Jayden Reed was on pace to break the franchise’s 1,000-yard drought before a broken collarbone in Week 2 derailed his 2025 campaign. But don’t let the injury fool you. When Reed is in the slot, he is unguardable. His passer rating when targeted in the slot was a ridiculous 131.9—fifth-best in the league.
The offense is visibly different when No. 11 is on the field. The run game averages nearly 1.5 yards more per carry with him in the lineup. He has to prove his durability next season, but the talent is undeniable.
Dontayvion Wicks: The Enigma
Wicks has been the definition of “just okay.” His catch totals are consistent—39, 39, and 30 over three years—but his impact is shrinking. His yardage dipped to a career-low 332 in 2025. He cleaned up the drops (down to 9.1%), but he needs to rediscover the YAC ability that made him a draft-day steal.
The Tight End Flip-Flop
Tucker Kraft is the guy. Period. Despite the torn ACL, his 17-game pace of 1,039 yards and 13 touchdowns is superstar territory. His 10.8 yards after the catch per reception wasn’t just good; it was 3.4 yards better than any other tight end. If his knee holds up, back up the Brinks truck.
Then there’s Luke Musgrave. The former second-round pick has vanished. In eight games without Kraft, he managed just 164 yards and zero scores. With Kraft sidelined for the offseason, Musgrave has one last shot to prove he belongs on the field.
Defensive Trenches: Make or Break
Devonte Wyatt
Wyatt’s 2025 season was a tragedy of bad luck—a knee injury in Week 4, then a broken fibula on Thanksgiving. But when healthy, he is a disruptor. Even in a down year, he ranked 12th in pass-rush win rate among interior linemen. The Packers were 6-3-1 with him and 3-5 without him. He’s playing on the fifth-year option in 2026, and an extension is the smartest way to lower his $12.9 million cap hit.
Lukas Van Ness
“Hercules” hasn’t quite lived up to the myth yet. With just 8.5 sacks in three seasons, Van Ness is still looking for his breakout. He played only 151 pass-rushing snaps in 2025 due to a foot injury. With uncertainty surrounding Rashan Gary’s contract and Kingsley Enagbare’s future, the door is wide open for Van Ness to claim a starting role.
“You can feel the urgency. We know the business side of this league. A lot of us came in together, and we want to win together before the contracts get complicated.”
— Senior Defensive Leader (Off-Record)
The Bottom Line
GM Brian Gutekunst has kicked the can down the road long enough. The 2026 season isn’t just about chasing a Lombardi Trophy; it’s an audition for half the starting lineup. If Watson and Reed stay healthy, the offense is elite. If Jenkins and Wyatt return to form, the trenches are set. But if the injuries pile up again, the 2027 offseason will be a teardown of historic proportions.
