ESPN has local media presences in various markets throughout the world. This is especially true for cities in which there are professional sports teams of the four major athletic leagues/associations. In Wisconsin, ESPN Milwaukee covers the Green Bay Packers and other professional teams within the state.
One of the shows on ESPN Milwaukee is Wilde and Tausch, which is hosted by Packers insider Jason Wilde and former Green Bay offensive lineman Mark Tauscher. On a recent show, they discussed the likely contract extension of current tight end Tucker Kraft, who they believe will become the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL.\
ESPN hosts predict Green Bay Packers star Tucker Kraft will be the NFL’s highest-paid tight end
Kraft is coming off of a torn ACL, which he suffered in the Packers’ eighth game of the 2025 NFL season. At the time of the injury, he had 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns.
After Green Bay extended two wide receivers, Jayden Reed and Christian Watson, already this off-season, many believe that Kraft is the next player the Packers are going to try to lock up long-term.
And Wilde believes that he will become the highest-paid tight end in the NFL when that deal gets done:
“I think Tucker Kraft will be the highest paid Tight End in football once he signs that deal.” –@jasonjwilde 💰
🧀 More on Tucker Kraft and the #Packers final minicamp practice during today’s FULL SHOW on YouTube: https://t.co/4CX5IyiaT3 https://t.co/zYq6aDfUPD pic.twitter.com/lTw5zrrQG9
— Wilde and Tausch (@WildeAndTausch) June 11, 2026
“The most interesting thing [Kraft] said… was that he believed he was the best tight end in football at the time of his injury. He was TE1. What does that mean? I think that means he wants to be paid as TE1. Not only does he not want to miss any time, but I think it is pretty clear, at least based on how he addressed it, that he will start camp on the PUP list, which means he can’t practice.
“Which also means they can continue negotiating to make sure a deal is done before he starts practicing. That is my read on the situation.
“I don’t think it’s acrimonious at all, but the average he would be looking for per season, which would put him at number one? First, George Kittle is at $19.1 million per year. He got $35 million guaranteed on his existing deal. Trey McBride of the Cardinals is at $19 million, but he got $43 million guaranteed.
“So I would think something that surpasses Trey McBride, which will then most likely be surpassed by the next tight end, but I think Tucker Kraft will be the highest-paid tight end in football once he signs that deal, whether it be in late July or early August.”
Currently, Kraft is poised to enter the 2026 NFL season playing in the final year of his rookie contract. The former third round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft emerged as Green Bay’s top tight end late in his rookie year when Luke Musgrave, who was a second round pick that year, went down with an injury.
The Packers believe that their offense is better with Kraft on the field, as he is both an excellent blocker and adept at picking up yards after the catch. They are well-known for locking up their top talent before free agency hits and making them among the highest-paid players at their respective positions.
It makes sense that Kraft would expect the same.
