Christian Watson Signs 1 Year Extension

[Joemailman]

Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein

Can confirm that Watson will sign a 1-year, $13.25 million extension, according to a source. The deal puts him just above the 1-year deals TuTu Atwell signed with the Rams and Dyami Brown signed with/Jaguars ($10M) after their four-year deals expired and they became free agents.

[George Cumby]

Packers taking care of their own and making a statement about what they think of Watson.

Seems smart and classy.

[MadScientist]

Gives Watson some decent money and a season to prove he can stay healthy and be worth a big deal. Packers potentially get a receiver who can stretch the field under contract without blowing up the cap or tying them down for a long time if he can't stay healthy.

[smuggler]

Seems like a fifth year option. Probably a good call. Talented player, just a little hampered by bad injury luck.

[MadtownPacker]

He has dropped more big plays than he has made. Overpaying for potential when his stats have trended downward from 2022 seems desperate.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

He has dropped more big plays than he has made. Overpaying for potential when his stats have trended downward from 2022 seems desperate.

Well, Watson is just a fragile boy with a broken toy. All lost and coy. But he found Love at the curtains of the waterfall. Can’t you feel the Love? Bombs away!

Lyrics aside, if Watson can return to form, offense is gonna be even more potent. Add Golden and just bomb it out all day, yo. Good signing.

[Fritz]

He has dropped more big plays than he has made. Overpaying for potential when his stats have trended downward from 2022 seems desperate.

Whether you like it or don't like it, this contract - along with the Parsons trade-and-sign - tell us that the philosophy on Lombardi Avenue has shifted. The days of having a great QB and being careful about the cap (even with the Smith Bros. signings a few years ago, they made sure it was going to fit) and draft picks are over. This is an all-in, two-or-three-year window of opportunity while Love and Co. are in their primes.

We'll see if it nets them a SB, but it also seems that in two or three years there'll be a reckoning - though I don't know if it'll be in the proportions of a New Orleans style reckoning.

[Patler]

Will this make Romeo Doubs feel like the odd-man-out?

[Joemailman]

Will this make Romeo Doubs feel like the odd-man-out?

Sure look like it. Trade deadline is November 4. If the rest of the WR's are healthy, could be a possibility.

[Patler]

Sure look like it. Trade deadline is November 4. If the rest of the WR's are healthy, could be a possibility.

Could be. On the other hand, if they are all-in for a Super Bowl run this year, keeping him and taking whatever they get as FA compensation in 2027 would be a small investment to maintain WR depth. Of course, if Doubs gets all pouty, trading him would be the thing to do.

[Joemailman]

Could be. On the other hand, if they are all-in for a Super Bowl run this year, keeping him and taking whatever they get as FA compensation in 2027 would be a small investment to maintain WR depth. Of course, if Doubs gets all pouty, trading him would be the thing to do.

A lot would depend on what his role is as the season goes on. Last year he led the team in receptions for 1st downs. If he continues to be that guy, they probably won't trade him.

[run pMc]

I think Doubs will be alright. He's likely gone after this year and will get a good contract elsewhere for more than $13M/year.

This isn't a bad deal for GB or Watson - he doesn't have to rush back in a contract year, and it's a prove it deal for a young WR. Jameson Williams is basically as productive and he signed for double this on a multiyear deal.

Going into 2026 you have Watson, Golden, Wicks, Reed, and Savion under contract as your WR group, in 2027 it gets interesting (my guess: Watson, Reed leave, Wicks stays) but by then I expect they will go back to the draft for more cheap WR contracts.
PLUS I think they will do everything they can to extend Kraft.

They pushed what will be a lot of cap hit into future years with Parsons, but the cap keeps increasing by $25M/yr and there will probably be a new TV deal in the coming years. They will lose a lot of players from their recent big draft classes, but I think they'll be ok. They'll get a bunch of comp picks and retool.

Keeping Watson for another year is a win for both sides. DCs have to respect his speed and he's a good blocker.

[jklowan]

I think Doubs will be alright. He's likely gone after this year and will get a good contract elsewhere for more than $13M/year.

This isn't a bad deal for GB or Watson - he doesn't have to rush back in a contract year, and it's a prove it deal for a young WR. Jameson Williams is basically as productive and he signed for double this on a multiyear deal.

Going into 2026 you have Watson, Golden, Wicks, Reed, and Savion under contract as your WR group, in 2027 it gets interesting (my guess: Watson, Reed leave, Wicks stays) but by then I expect they will go back to the draft for more cheap WR contracts.
PLUS I think they will do everything they can to extend Kraft.

They pushed what will be a lot of cap hit into future years with Parsons, but the cap keeps increasing by $25M/yr and there will probably be a new TV deal in the coming years. They will lose a lot of players from their recent big draft classes, but I think they'll be ok. They'll get a bunch of comp picks and retool.

Keeping Watson for another year is a win for both sides. DCs have to respect his speed and he's a good blocker.

This just increases the return if he is traded after the season provided he has a decent year, IMHO. Make sure you get something back for the 2 1's you just traded away, if they come away with a 2nd for Him and a 2nd for Doubs it will lessen the blow of no 1's

[bobblehead]

He has dropped more big plays than he has made. Overpaying for potential when his stats have trended downward from 2022 seems desperate.

I sort of agree, but I err that way. Probably a neutral move to be honest. But this seems to seal the fate of Romeo.

[bobblehead]

Whether you like it or don't like it, this contract - along with the Parsons trade-and-sign - tell us that the philosophy on Lombardi Avenue has shifted. The days of having a great QB and being careful about the cap (even with the Smith Bros. signings a few years ago, they made sure it was going to fit) and draft picks are over. This is an all-in, two-or-three-year window of opportunity while Love and Co. are in their primes.

We'll see if it nets them a SB, but it also seems that in two or three years there'll be a reckoning - though I don't know if it'll be in the proportions of a New Orleans style reckoning.

While I feel they are going just a little bit to all in, I don't feel its as bad as they did a few years back. I'd like to have the banks signing back, use the money on Walker and have Morgan starting at LG. That seemed a mistake to me. And they gave Love that monster deal a bit too early. They could have hard balled him to play another year or half a year and prove he deserved it. Probably would have saved us a little money.

Bottom line, this is a young team with a lot of talent. Injury luck could lead us to an Owl....injury bad luck could give the cowboys a better pick.