With the NFL adding roughly $25 million to each team's salary cap annually and clubs routinely spending 10 % over cap in cash, teams are racing to lock in talent early. The Philadelphia Eagles lead this trend, but Green Bay’s priority is Christian Watson, who is eligible for an extension despite a recent one‑year deal.
Watson, a year away from free agency, faces the risk of injury and a market that could spike if Alec Pierce, the sixth‑best free agent in 2026, signs elsewhere. Securing Watson now would protect the Packers from a future bidding war and a salary‑cap jump in 2027.