Packers With Something Extra on the Line in 2026
2026 will be a crucial season for several Packers in terms of their individual goals
By markoldacres
As training camp nears closer, a pivotal season for the Packers is on the horizon, as well as for some prominent players who are playing for more than just the collective goal of competing for a Super Bowl in 2026.
In this article a year ago, I wrote about three high-priced veterans who needed a strong season to remain on the team, as Green Bay could save significant cap space by moving on.
Those players were Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary and Elgton Jenkins, none of whom are on the team today, after two were traded to the Cowboys – Clark before last season in exchange for Micah Parsons, Gary this spring – and one released.
The most notable veteran player who could be on the chopping block if he does not perform well in 2026 is Josh Jacobs.
Of course, his situation is far more complex than just his play on the football field, and he may be off the team before this season even begins depending on the outcome of his legal issues.
If he does play the 2026 campaign with the Packers though, he will need to bounce back from a less productive year, or risk being cut next offseason. Jacobs will enter the final year of his contract in 2027, and Green Bay can save $13.5m in cap space by cutting him next spring.
He will be 29 by then, and with the age cliff usually coming quickly for running backs, there is a good chance the Packers would look to get out a year too early rather than a year too late, irrespective of his pending legal situation.
Newly acquired linebacker Zaire Franklin is under pressure to show he still has something left in the tank after a down year with the Colts in 2025, which led to him being traded to the Packers. The 30-year-old linebacker can easily be cut next spring for cap savings of $9m.
Keisean Nixon, a polarizing figure within the fanbase, is in a contract year. It does not seem likely his next deal will be in Green Bay, but he still needs to put together a strong season to attract other suitors in 2027 and beyond.
He turns 30 next year, so whatever contract he gets next is probably his last of significance, and will likely be the most lucrative he has ever signed. Nixon needs to hang on to a starting job and find more consistency in 2026.
In terms of players still on their rookie contracts, this will be a big year for Devonte Wyatt in particular.
Wyatt is playing on his 5th year option, and although his snap to snap performance and production has been strong in the last couple of years, the problem has been the amount of snaps he has been able to play.
Injuries plagued him in both 2024 and 2025, and are threatening to undermine his earning power on his next contract. Wyatt started last season very well before the injury bug hit again, appearing to benefit from playing next to Parsons. He needs to put together a full, productive year.
This season could also be make or break for Carrington Valentine, who at times has looked like developing into a legitimate starting cornerback, but has never truly taken that step.
In 2026, he faces a battle to get on the field once more, with rookie 2nd round pick Brandon Cisse and free agent signing Benjamin St-Juste arriving to compete for playing time.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (2)
Coldworld
July 06, 2026 at 10:48 am
The Packers give out few post 30 contracts. Nixon is a decent CB2 or has been under Hafley in a system that suits him as much as any I can think of. At some point all teams have to plan to improve replace. In an ideal world Nixon is a good number 2 and a great number 3 option. Teams can’t settle for that being the ideal for their best CB. I think the process of renewal at the position has already started. I note that Bullard will be in a contract year next season. It may be that extending him will prove the priority among the returning CBs.
Valentine has to decide if he can step up and embrace initiating contact. If he does that and it’s effective, he could well be in for a long career. At this point though, my instincts suggest that kind of change is unlikely.
Jacobs is now at a point where he will have to live up to his contract. That includes accounting for an OL that was bad run blocking for him even in his first year and downright insipid last year. I don’t see a guarantee that he’s on the roster next year, but I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be if he maintains his standard of play.
Wyatt for me is a big question mark. Can we afford him post extending Kraft? Can he play enough snaps to sustain him and us. Apart from being injured by another player last year, he’s mostly been available but lightly used and his play has fluctuated considerably. To pay him we need to know he can keep it up through a full season as a starter and be more consistent going forward. His talent is real. He probably needs to be used more cannily. He’s decent against the run, but he’s very good against the pass, and better fresher. Guys like Hargrave, McClellan and Brinson may allow that and unlock him.
Franklin is, like Hargrave, a holding piece. If he plays well enough that we want him next year, that’s a big win. I think we also have to consider McKinney. His contract balloons in 2027 (it’s good this year cap wise) but it voids before 2028 (with monies still due). I suspect he’s playing for an extension this year. It’s worth noting that Williams will be in his CB last year of his rookie contract next year and thus we will potentially want to pay him substantially if he continues to ascend.
Turophile
July 06, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Good post, Coldworld.
Given the Packers overall cap health in 2027, McKinney will not play with a $14m base salary, his contract will be re-done or he goes, imo.
In recent years the Packers seem to have had success treating some injury prone players. You can't do anything to prevent a broken fibula, but maybe Wyatt's ankle injuries can be helped. In my mind the only reasons he isn't retained are the Packers are not confident enough of his ability to avoid another injury - or an unresolvable disconnect between what he and his agent think he should earn and the Packers thinking.
Josh Jacobs contract ends after 2027, so if he plays well in 2026, they probably run him back in 2027 for a final year. With his earnings $2m more in 2027 than 2026, there is no giant leap in the last year of his contract. Marshawn Lloyd can play a role in what happens to Jacobs, assuming he stays healthy for at least most of 2026 (RB is a tough position to stay healthy ALL games + postseason). His (Jacobs) legal position is unknown at this time, so I will not speculate there.
Props for not calling Keisean Nixon a no.1 corner. He never really was that, but was thrust into that role. For a FA he has outplayed his undrafted status by a mile. Will the Packers give another contract after his current one ends after 2026, probably not........and there may be another day 2 CB taken in the 2027 draft, as a result.