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The NFL salary cap has risen from $182.5 million in 2021 to $279.2 million in 2025, all while the NFL’s teams have figured out a better way to keep hold of their top talent with the use of salary conversions and void years. Because of the lack of stars who have hit the free agent market, the biggest gains in the rising market have gone to non-Pro Bowl second-contract players, who are unsurprisingly the very type of players who are now at the top of the pecking order in free agency in the modern NFL. That is all to say: Green Bay Packers fans might be surprised by what 2026 has in store for their team’s free agents, if they haven’t paid attention recently.
Tom Silverstein wrote an article for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, after talking to league sources, which laid the groundwork for where these players’ markets stand at the moment. Let’s dive into the information and give some context to these numbers.
Back in September, I wrote about how the backup quarterback market exploded. Not the “maybe we’ll start you” quarterback market like Daniel Jones’ situation with the Indianapolis Colts. True blue backups.
“Up until recently, there were very few backup quarterbacks in the NFL who received north of $5 million per year. Even veteran quarterbacks with starting experience, like Jameis Winston ($4 million) and Jimmy Garoppolo ($3 million), came short of that number.
Recently, the market has moved, though. Tyson Bagent of the Chicago Bears, who threw all of two passes last season, signed a two-year, $10 million extension a couple of weeks ago. Prior to his new contract, the only backup quarterbacks earning north of $4 million per year were Marcus Mariota ($8 million), Jacoby Brissett ($6.25 million), Zach Wilson ($6 million), Jarrett Stidham ($6 million) and Tyrod Taylor ($6 million) going into the 2025 regular season.”
Once Bagent signed for $5 million per, I wrote that the number was likely Willis’ floor price moving forward. Remember, Bagent threw all of two passes in all of 2024. He’s thrown four in 2025.
That’s just sort of how this works in the NFL. If one player gets a number, the entire market shifts up to that number. It’s the new minimum, and teams don’t really have an option but to pay the price if they want the player. They can’t justify a lower price in an era with such high cap growth. You’re either in on the player or out on the player. That’s how it’s viewed in agent circles.
Here’s what Silverstein had to say about Willis’ situation:
“Willis could make $5 million to $8 million next season as an unrestricted free agent, maybe more if he gets a chance to show he can do beyond running the option offense.
Three NFC personnel officials who have studied the Packers this season and watched their victory over the New York Giants, didn’t feel that Willis would do...
