Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt will play the 2026 season under his fifth-year option, which guarantees him $12.9 million. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027, and this season will determine whether he earns a long-term extension with the Green and Gold.
I specifically said “this season” because, while there has never been much doubt that the 2022 first-round pick is an impact player when healthy, Devonte Wyatt is also a specific type of defensive tackle. He has yet to earn a second contract, turns 29 next year, and is coming off a broken fibula and torn ligament suffered against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
“You guys see the difference he makes when he got back out on the field. He’s a player you can’t replace,” Micah Parsons said of Wyatt on Thanksgiving. “It’s going to be challenging, but we’re going to have to really dial into our details, our fundamentals, to try to replace someone that’s unreplaceable.”
Wyatt got off to a great start in 2025, recording 13 pressures over the first three games, including a seven-pressure performance against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football. However, his momentum came to an abrupt halt when he suffered an injury against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. He didn’t return until Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Me personally, I know I got a lot more in the tank,” Wyatt said this offseason. “I feel like I got a lot more in the tank than what I put out there this year or the past three years. I know I have a lot more, and I feel like this injury right here really is going to help me get above this hump, just showing y’all what I have.”
Well, Green Bay better hope that’s enough to help hold down the defensive line until Parsons returns.
The Packers should have a solid interior rotation in 2026 with Wyatt and Javon Hargrave projected to start, Karl Brooks providing value as a situational pass rusher, and Chris McClellan likely filling the nose tackle role. However, the long-term outlook is concerning. Hargrave is more of a short-term addition, Brooks is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and Wyatt himself will turn 29 next year. Unless Green Bay extends Wyatt or invests significant draft capital at defensive tackle next year, that could quickly become one of the team’s biggest needs.
I find Wyatt’s situation fascinating because so many factors are at play. There’s no question that, when healthy, he has the talent to consistently be one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL.
At the same time, he’s coming off a major injury, will turn 29 next year, and has yet to sign a second contract. Would Green Bay be willing to give a player nearing his 30s a four-year extension? Based on the organization’s history, that seems unlikely, which is why I think this will be one of the most interesting contract situations to watch over the next nine months.
If Devonte Wyatt stays healthy and has the type of season he was on pace for before the injuries piled up, there’s no question Green Bay will want to keep him. What I would be most curious to see is what that contract looks like, considering the age, injury history, and other factors I mentioned. Those details could end up being just as interesting as the decision to extend him in the first place.
