The Packers have been a team with Wide Receiver woes in one way or another for quite a while. During the end of the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay, it was well known that the WR core was weak and the Packers seemingly refused to do anything about it. In the Love era, it’s been a bit of an opposite problem, too many WRs. Between Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks, there was never a true consensus WR1. This led to fluctuating opportunities and roles for each player and left the WR room feeling like they were playing below their potential as one of the deepest in the league. That rotation didn’t get any easier in 2025 when the Packers used their 1st round pick on Matthew Golden and drafted Savion Williams on Day 2. Depth WR Bo Melton even explored a change to cornerback to try and avoid the logjam. In 2026 however, the Packers have made their decisions and locked in their WR room. Dontayvion Wicks was sent off to the Eagles via trade. Romeo Doubs joined the Patriots in free agency without much buzz of a Green Bay return.
Not only did the Packers open up playing time at WR this offseason, they locked in their guys. Jayden Reed signed a three year contract extension worth over $50 million earlier in the offseason to continue playing his slot role. Matthew Golden and Savion Williams are still on rookie deals. Golden will operate as a true starting outside receiver, while Savion Williams likely plays more of a gadget role, if at all. Bo Melton and Skyy Moore will likely be depth pieces only if they make the team. This leaves the X-Wide Receiver role primed for Christian Watson. Watson, a former 2nd round pick who had signed a smaller 1 year extension prior, is now one of the highest paid players at the position after this 4 year, $110 million extension.
Christian Watson has always flashed talent to go with prototypical size and athleticism to be a true X-WR. The biggest problem for Watson though 4 years into his career has been health. He’s started 45 games in 4 seasons and never played an entire healthy season. He had 611 yards last year in 10 games, with his career high of 620 yards coming in 2024 where he played in 15 games. It’s not often a player without a 700 yard season gets this type of money, but Christian Watson also isn’t a typical player.
Watson’s 61.1 yards per game last season ranks him 17th, right behind Jameson Williams, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Justin Jefferson; and right ahead of Courtland Sutton, Tetairoa McMillan, and Stefon Diggs. He will make only marginally more money per year than Jameson Williams and Sutton and way less than Justin Jefferson. Watson also finished 6th last year in yards per target. If he performs as he did last season for a full 17 games he will be a solid value on this contract. If he takes advantage of the increased opportunity while staying healthy, this contract could end up being a steal. While I understand fans hesitancy to buy into such a large contract for an “unproven” player. I really think the only thing Watson hasn’t proven is the ability to stay healthy. Only time will tell whether he is able to give the Packers the value they were looking for in this contract.
