Packers betting big on Christian Watson with lucrative extension

As promising as Watson has been, the Packers are betting on even bigger things from him based on his extension. It comes with risk, with Watson missing 20 games during his four-year career, including the first six of 2025 while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 18 of the previous season. He also sat eight games in 2023 with a pulled right hamstring. As a rookie, he missed another three games due to a hamstring injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in a Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The deal marks the second long-term extension the Packers have handed a wideout this offseason, as ESPN's Adam Schefter noted, with Jayden Reed signing a more cap-friendly three-year, $50.25 deal in April.

One year removed from posting a career-high 857 receiving yards., Reed had 19 receptions, 207 yards and a touchdown last season while missing 10 games after fracturing his clavicle in Week 2. The two contracts will be under scrutiny this season following the decision to allow 2025 leading receiver Romeo Doubs (55 receptions, 724 yards) to walk in free agency. He eventually signed a four-year, $68M contract with the New England Patriots.

Per Spotrac, Watson's extension ranks No. 15 in annual value ($27.625M) among wide receivers, so it isn't as though Green Bay broke the bank to keep him. But considering the surrounding company, the deal is an overpay based on what he's provided so far in his career.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, for example, is averaging over 1,000 receiving yards per season since entering the league in 2021 and is set to earn only slightly more at $28.25M per year through 2028. Watson will also make more than Nico Collins ($24.25M/year), DeVonta Smith ($25M/year) and George Pickens ($27.298M), all much more accomplished wideouts at this stage of their careers.

But if Watson begins to produce as a true WR1, his contract will soon look much more attractive. That's what Green Bay is betting on. Heading into 2026, though, it's a lot of capital to invest into a volatile asset.