The Packers’ Christian Watson Extension Isn’t Just a Pay Move — It Quietly Redraws the Franchise’s Long-Term Blueprint.QQ

Christian Watsons breakout season has the Packers reaping unexpected savings from a high-risk extension thats suddenly looking like a bargain.

IMAGE: Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) runs against Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (14) during the second half at Ford Field. / Lon Horwedel / Imagn Images

How the Packers’ Gamble on Christian Watson Is Already Paying Off – Big Time

When the Green Bay Packers handed Christian Watson a one-year, $11 million extension while he was still recovering from a torn ACL, eyebrows were raised. It was a bold move – one that carried real risk for both sides.

Watson hadn’t played a snap since the injury, and the timeline for his return was still weeks away. But now, just seven games into his comeback, it’s looking more like a savvy piece of business than a gamble.

Watson has racked up 452 receiving yards and five touchdowns since coming off injured reserve, including a scorching stretch over the last two games where he posted 169 yards and three scores – both wins in tight divisional matchups. That kind of production, especially in high-leverage moments, is exactly what Green Bay hoped for when they extended him. And if he keeps trending like this, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the front office try to lock him up again before that one-year deal even expires.

So the question floating around Titletown is a fair one: Just how much value are the Packers getting out of this deal?

A Look at the Numbers

Let’s break this down. Watson’s $11 million extension was agreed upon while he was still sidelined – not yet medically cleared and coming off major knee surgery.

That’s not typically when teams like to spend. But from Watson’s side, it made sense too.

Another injury in 2025 could’ve seriously hurt his future earnings, especially during what should be the prime of his career. So both sides met in the middle: security for the player, potential upside for the team.

Now that Watson’s back and producing at a high level, that upside is becoming clearer by the week.

To put this deal in context, look at Detroit’s Jameson Williams – a receiver with a similar skillset and production level. Williams signed a three-year extension worth $27.7 million in new money. That’s more than double what Watson is making for this additional year in Green Bay.

And Williams isn’t an outlier. There are now 24 veteran wide receivers in the NFL pulling in at least $20 million per year.

On the flip side, only six receivers under age 28 on second contracts make between $5 million and $20 million. That middle ground is rare – usually reserved for aging vets, not young playmakers with WR1 upside.

Watson’s Market Value Is Rising – Fast

Let’s talk comps. In that $5M-$20M range, Watson’s current deal puts him alongside guys like Jerry Jeudy, Khalil Shakir, Rashod Bateman, Tutu Atwell, Dyami Brown, and Josh Palmer. Solid players, sure, but not exactly lighting up the league.

• Jeudy has averaged 856 yards per season (pre-2025) and was traded for a fifth- and sixth-round pick.
• Bateman?

481 yards per year.

• Shakir is Buffalo’s WR3, averaging 531.
• Atwell? 448.
• Brown? 196.
• Palmer? 572.

Watson, even with injuries slowing him down early in his career, has 123 catches, 2,105 yards, and 19 touchdowns. That’s more than respectable – that’s production you pay for.

Compare that to Williams again: 128 catches, 2,198 yards, 16 touchdowns. Very similar numbers.

Both were drafted in 2022. Williams was a first-round pick, Watson went 34th overall – just outside that first-round label.

Williams also missed significant time as a rookie with his own ACL tear.

The key difference? Williams is two years younger and has that first-round pedigree, which can still carry weight in negotiations.

But the numbers don’t lie – Watson belongs in that same conversation. And if that’s the case, then any future extension likely starts around the $20 million per year mark.

The Packers Played It Smart

So what does that mean for the Packers? Simple: they’re getting a potential $20 million-per-year player for nearly half that price in 2025.

That’s real value. Call it a $10 million win for general manager Brian Gutekunst and EVP of football ops Russ Ball – a smart bet that’s already paying off in wins and touchdowns.

And if Watson keeps up this pace? Don’t be surprised if Green Bay moves to lock him in long-term before that price tag climbs even higher. Because right now, Watson isn’t just proving he’s back – he’s proving he’s worth every penny, and then some.