The NFL has seen $25 million per year in salary‑cap increases, with teams spending an average of 10 % over cap in cash. Clubs are now rushing to lock in key players before prices climb.
Green Bay’s priority is to secure a long‑term deal with Christian Watson, who is eligible for an extension despite a recent one‑year extension. Doing so before Alec Pierce, the sixth‑best free agent in 2026, signs a multi‑year contract will protect the Packers from a bidding war and a market reset.