With the NFL adding roughly $25 million to each team's cap annually and clubs routinely spending 10 % over cap in cash, teams are racing to lock in talent early. The Eagles lead this trend, but Green Bay’s priority is Watson, who is eligible for an extension after a 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 potential bidding war and a cap jump in 2027.