Packers, Jayden Reed Agree To Extension

Reed’s $16.75MM AAV slots him in as the 29th-highest paid wide receiver in the league, a solid deal for the Packers. The 2023 second-rounder flashed as a rookie before putting together an impressive sophomore campaign with 11.4 yards per target and 15.6 yards per reception. Both numbers ranked among the league’s top six wideouts and raised expectations entering 2025.

However, Reed suffered a broken clavicle in Week 2, forcing him into injured reserve until December. He took the time off to also undergo surgery to address a Jones fracture in his foot that he originally intended to play through. Reed returned in Week 14 and caught 16 of his 17 targets for 162 yards – an efficient but low-volume stat line – over his final five games.

Paying less than $17MM per year for an efficient slot receiver is a good bit of business for a Packers team that has generally avoided signing veteran receivers to multi-year deals. They have consistently spent draft capital at the position – including a first-round pick on Matthew Golden last year – allowing them to trade Dontayvion Wicks and let Romeo Doubs walk in free agency this offseason. Wicks, who has seen declining production in each of his three NFL seasons, received a one-year, $12.5MM extension from the Eagles. Doubs has never been as efficient as Reed and signed a three-year, $51MM deal with the Patriots that included $35MM guaranteed.

Comparatively, Reed’s contract seems to offer more upside with significantly less guaranteed money (and therefore much lower risk). He, Golden, and Christian Watson will form Jordan Love‘s top trio of wideouts in 2026, and potentially beyond if Green Bay ponies up for another Watson extension, too. He signed a one-year, $11MM deal in September during his recovery from a January torn ACL. That looked like a steal for the Packers when the 6-foot-4 wideout returned to the field in October and averaged 61.6 yards per game and 11.1 yards per target across the final 10 games of the season. Carrying that performance into 2026 could price him out of Green Bay, but it would also motivate the team to pay another proven receiver who has an established connection with their franchise quarterback.