Over the next few days, 257 football players will see their dreams come true when their names are called in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Presumably, eight of those players will be Green Bay Packers.
They'll get the dream-fulfillment and then the cash that comes with it.
Here's what you need to know on projected slot values for each selection in the draft, along with information of how NFL rookie contracts are constructed and more:
Term lengths for NFL rookie contracts vary, depending on when a player is drafted or if they sign as an undrafted free agent.
According to Article 7 of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, NFL rookie contracts are "fixed" and "unalterable."
Those taken in the first round get a four-year contract with a fifth-year option. Their base salary and contract is fully guaranteed for the first four years, with the team having the option on the fifth year.
Those taken in rounds two through seven of the draft will receive a four-year contract. Undrafted free agents get a three-year contract.
An NFL rookie can't be extended or have his rookie contract renegotiated by their team until after their third season.
Length for first-round draft picks: Four years, club option for fifth year
Length for draft picks in rounds two through seven: Four years, no club option
Length for undrafted free agents: Three years, no club option
According to estimated values on Spotrac, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is expected to sign for $54.565 million, with an average annual value of $13.6 million per year.
That's had a huge jump in recent years. Cameron Ward's AAV when he was the first pick last year: $12.2 million. Caleb Williams in 2024: $9.9 million. A decade ago in 2016, Jared Goff received $7 million. The NFL implemented a rookie wage scale in 2011.
The No. 32 and final first-round pick is on track to receive $16.17 million, so the first round picks range from the $55 million to $16 million.
The No. 20 pick, which is where the Packers would have selected had they not traded their first-round pick to Dallas, is slated for $19.99 million.
The range in the second round runs from $12.94 million (pick No. 33) to $7.72 million (pick No. 64). The Packers are slated to make their first selection of the draft at No. 52, a player projected to make $9.13 million.
The range in the third round runs from $7.28 million (No. 65) to $6.60 million (No. 100). The Packers are slated to pick No. 84, and that pick gets $6.81 million.
The range in the fourth round runs from $5.48 million (No. 101) to $4.99 million (No. 140). The Packers are slated to pick No. 120, and that pick gets $5.32 million.
The range in the fifth round runs from $4.78 million (No. 141) to $4.60 million (No. 181). The Packers are slated to pick No. 160, and that pick gets $4.71 million. Pick No. 153, also belonging to Green Bay, is slated for $4.72 million.
No. 201 in the sixth round is slated to get $4.50 million. Pick No. 236 in the seventh round is at $4.38 million and pick No. 255 is $4.36 million.