With the NFL adding roughly $25 million to each team's cap annually and clubs routinely spending 10 % over the cap, teams are racing to secure talent early. The Eagles have led the charge, locking in players with long‑term contracts over the past five years.
Watson, who signed a one‑year extension last season, is eligible for a long‑term deal and remains a year away from free agency. The Packers would benefit from signing him before 2027’s cap jump or before Pierce, the sixth‑best free agent in 2026, triggers a bidding war that could inflate market prices.