The NFL’s salary cap is rising by roughly $25 million per team each year, while teams are also spending about 10 % over the cap in cash for players. This has pushed clubs to lock in key talent early, as seen with the Philadelphia Eagles’ long‑term deals over the past five years.
For Green Bay, Watson is eligible for an extension after a one‑year deal, and the team must act before Pierce, the sixth‑best free agent in 2026, signs a multi‑year contract. Securing Watson now would protect the Packers from a potential bidding war and a market reset that could inflate his value in 2027.