The Packer signed Jayden Reed to an extension last week, raising some questions about Christian Watson‘s future on a team that seemingly prefers to draft and develop young receiers rather than paying veterans.
However, three days of the 2026 NFL Draft came and went, and the Packers did not add another receiver. That is not necessarily indicative of Watson’s status – the team also has second-year wideouts Matthew Golden and Savion Williams as well as Bo Melton on the roster. But general manager Brian Gutekunst said after the draft that an extension for Watson was “absolutely” on the table, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
The 2022 second-round pick out of North Dakota State impressed as a rookie with 41 catches for 611 yards and seven touchdowns across 14 appearances. He maintained similar per-game production in 2023, but only appeared in nine games due to recurrent hamstring injuries. Watson returned for 15 games in 2024, averaging an impressive 11.7 yards per target and 21.4 yards per catch before tearing his ACL in the Packers’ regular season finale.
Green Bay signed Watson to a one-year, $11MM extension, giving him some financial security as he rehabbed and ensuring he would remain under contract through the 2026 season. Now, the two sides could soon be returning to the negotiating table to hammer out a multi-year deal.
Watson’s injury history may limit the amount of guarantees that the risk-averse Packers are willing to offer. However, his past injuries showed no signs of lingering effects last year, as the 26-year-old wideout posted a 11.1 yards per target and a career-high 61.1 receiving yards per game. Those numbers are comparable to the performances of Jameson Williams and Alec Pierce, who are making between $26.7MM and $28.5MM per year, respectively. However, that is far too expensive for a receiver who has never reached 16 appearances, 45 catches, or 650 receiving yards in one year.
The Packers will certainly be looking for a cheaper price tag on a Watson extension in the coming months, potentially closer to Reed’s three-year, $50MM deal. But after receiving one smaller short-term payday, the 6-foot-4 wideout could instead choose to bet on himself in 2026 in the hopes of cashing in next year.
get er done