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Last week, the Green Bay Packers made one of the most expected moves of their off-season. They signed wide receiver Christian Watson to a four-year $110 million contract extension, ensuring that their 2022 second round pick will remain with the organization for the duration of their current Super Bowl window.
For those who have watched the Packers closely since Watson entered the NFL, it is clear that their offense plays on a higher level whenever he is on the field. That being said, there were many who felt that Green Bay is overpaying Watson because of his injury history.
Frankly, they could not be more wrong.
Nov 27, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) reacts after a catch against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Since coming into the NFL, Watson has dealt with a plethora of injuries. In his first two seasons, he was plagued by chronic hamstring issues that prompted him to seek the advice of a specialist. It was found that the hamstring muscles in one of his legs were far stronger than the other, which led to his frequent issues.
Strength conditioning corrected these issues, but he suffered a torn ACL in Week 18 of the 2024 season, his third in the league. As a result, he missed the first part of 2025 as he recovered from that.
To be clear, the torn ACL was in no way related to his previous hamstring issues. When he returned, Watson was one of the biggest producers on the offense, and ended up ranking second on the team in targets despite not playing for the first several weeks.
All this to say, the Packers are not handing Watson $110 million for what he has already done. They gave him the contract for what he will do for them over the next four seasons. Presumably, if he stays healthy, he will be their primary wide receiver and, as a result, put up the big numbers that fans want to see.
And even if he does not, Watson’s only guaranteed money in this deal is the $31 million signing bonus. If he does have injury issues or under produces, the Packers will not be on the hook for the majority of the contract’s value.
Given the nature of the wide receiver market in today’s NFL, Watson’s contract is realistically a bargain. He is not among the top-ten highest-paid wide receivers in the league, and by the time he gets a couple years into this extension, he probably will not even be in the top-25.
Another way to think about the money aspect is this: players drafted by teams sign partially or fully guaranteed contracts with the teams that drafted them. Of course, these teams are not paying their drafted players for the production they had in college; they are paying them for what they will hopefully do for them in the NFL.
Thinking of the Watson extension as a reward for the production he has had thus far in the NFL is flawed. No contract offered by any team to any player is that. It is a hope that they will produce at a high level after the contract is signed.
This is the truth that many are not seeing, or choosing not see, when it comes to the Watson contract. It will be up to him to prove them wrong, of course, but they also must realize they are approaching their critique of it from the wrong angle.
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
Continue reading...
For those who have watched the Packers closely since Watson entered the NFL, it is clear that their offense plays on a higher level whenever he is on the field. That being said, there were many who felt that Green Bay is overpaying Watson because of his injury history.
Frankly, they could not be more wrong.
The Green Bay Packers are not paying Christian Watson for what he has done already
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Nov 27, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) reacts after a catch against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Since coming into the NFL, Watson has dealt with a plethora of injuries. In his first two seasons, he was plagued by chronic hamstring issues that prompted him to seek the advice of a specialist. It was found that the hamstring muscles in one of his legs were far stronger than the other, which led to his frequent issues.
Strength conditioning corrected these issues, but he suffered a torn ACL in Week 18 of the 2024 season, his third in the league. As a result, he missed the first part of 2025 as he recovered from that.
To be clear, the torn ACL was in no way related to his previous hamstring issues. When he returned, Watson was one of the biggest producers on the offense, and ended up ranking second on the team in targets despite not playing for the first several weeks.
All this to say, the Packers are not handing Watson $110 million for what he has already done. They gave him the contract for what he will do for them over the next four seasons. Presumably, if he stays healthy, he will be their primary wide receiver and, as a result, put up the big numbers that fans want to see.
And even if he does not, Watson’s only guaranteed money in this deal is the $31 million signing bonus. If he does have injury issues or under produces, the Packers will not be on the hook for the majority of the contract’s value.
Given the nature of the wide receiver market in today’s NFL, Watson’s contract is realistically a bargain. He is not among the top-ten highest-paid wide receivers in the league, and by the time he gets a couple years into this extension, he probably will not even be in the top-25.
Another way to think about the money aspect is this: players drafted by teams sign partially or fully guaranteed contracts with the teams that drafted them. Of course, these teams are not paying their drafted players for the production they had in college; they are paying them for what they will hopefully do for them in the NFL.
Thinking of the Watson extension as a reward for the production he has had thus far in the NFL is flawed. No contract offered by any team to any player is that. It is a hope that they will produce at a high level after the contract is signed.
This is the truth that many are not seeing, or choosing not see, when it comes to the Watson contract. It will be up to him to prove them wrong, of course, but they also must realize they are approaching their critique of it from the wrong angle.
More Green Bay Packers news from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Xavier McKinney reveals why he spends the off-season in Green Bay
- Packers fan-favorite predicted to be first time All-Pro in 2026
- Christian Watson’s wife reacts to his stunning development with Packers
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
Continue reading...
