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The Green Bay Packers made their priorities clear when it comes to their pass catchers this offseason, moving on from Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs, before awarding Jayden Reed and Christian Watson long-term contracts.
Along with 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden, and tight end Tucker Kraft, they will form the core of Green Bay’s passing game for the foreseeable future.
In making firm decisions on who to build the passing attack around, the Packers will also hope to find more harmony among their ranks in 2026, after multiple cases of players being unhappy with their roles in the last two seasons.
Perhaps it is no coincidence Watson and Reed, to whom Green Bay committed upwards of $140 million in the last two months, have regularly received adulation for their attitude and work ethic.
Speaking to the media scrum at Ray Nitschke Field on Tuesday, head coach Matt LaFleur was effusive in his praise of both receivers.
On Watson, who signed a four-year, $92 million contract last week, LaFleur said: “He embodies what we want to be about. He’s a team-first kind of guy. Never once over the course of four years have I ever heard him complain about not getting the ball.
“He does all the little things the right way, I think he handles himself the right way. He’s a great teammate, he busts his butt every day when he comes in the building, he does all the dirty work in the run game, so I was super fired up for him."
Watson had a career ‘half’ year in 2025, looking even better after returning from an ACL injury suffered at the end of the previous season, putting up some impressive performances and production.
Regarding Watson’s importance to the Packers offense, LaFleur said: “We saw it last year the impact he has on the game, even when he’s not getting the ball, but certainly when he’s targeted.
“When we’ve gone to him, the consistency at which he’s made those plays has gotten better over time."
Asked about the value of both Watson and Reed in the locker room, he said: “Those guys are A+, you can’t ask for better guys.
“Both of those guys are deserving of what they got (paid) and we’re definitely excited about that whole nucleus, having them around for a while, MG (Matthew Golden), hopefully Tucker (Kraft)’s coming up soon, so having all those guys to build around Jordan (Love) I think is critical."
It is easy to forget that along with Watson being out for all of training camp a year ago, Reed also dealt with his own injury issues last summer.
Reed had been Green Bay’s top receiver in terms of yardage in both 2023 and 2024, LaFleur is hopeful having the duo available to continue to build their relationship with Jordan Love will be valuable.
He said: “The continuity piece is critical. It’s been a good offseason having everybody healthy and available, those two guys (Watson and Reed) in particular and I think they just continue to build on what they’ve done in the past."
Proving LaFleur’s point on the type of character Watson is, the fifth-year receiver insisted he will not rest on his laurels now, vowing: “I’m going to go out there every day with the mindset to continue to earn that contract every single day."
“I know regardless of how much money I make doing this, there’s still plenty of things that I have to get better at. There’s a bunch of things I want to continue to prove to myself that I can do, so I think it’s just having the right mentality going forward, not getting complacent."
Green Bay’s top four pass catchers look set, but Love reminded Packers fans not to forget about Savion Williams, a 3rd round pick from a year ago who was mostly limited to a gadget role, and himself dealt with various injuries from last offseason program through the end of the year.
Love named Williams as a player people should be asking about, explaining: “He’s another guy that will have that year two jump and I think for him, it’s just getting those reps and feeling more comfortable and confident with everything he does and just knowing the offense inside and out."
The Packers have made their choices with regards to which pass catchers they will be relying upon in their championship window, now it is up to them to prove the decision makers right.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers contract extensions make priorities clear at wide receiver
Continue reading...
Along with 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden, and tight end Tucker Kraft, they will form the core of Green Bay’s passing game for the foreseeable future.
In making firm decisions on who to build the passing attack around, the Packers will also hope to find more harmony among their ranks in 2026, after multiple cases of players being unhappy with their roles in the last two seasons.
Perhaps it is no coincidence Watson and Reed, to whom Green Bay committed upwards of $140 million in the last two months, have regularly received adulation for their attitude and work ethic.
Speaking to the media scrum at Ray Nitschke Field on Tuesday, head coach Matt LaFleur was effusive in his praise of both receivers.
On Watson, who signed a four-year, $92 million contract last week, LaFleur said: “He embodies what we want to be about. He’s a team-first kind of guy. Never once over the course of four years have I ever heard him complain about not getting the ball.
“He does all the little things the right way, I think he handles himself the right way. He’s a great teammate, he busts his butt every day when he comes in the building, he does all the dirty work in the run game, so I was super fired up for him."
Watson had a career ‘half’ year in 2025, looking even better after returning from an ACL injury suffered at the end of the previous season, putting up some impressive performances and production.
Regarding Watson’s importance to the Packers offense, LaFleur said: “We saw it last year the impact he has on the game, even when he’s not getting the ball, but certainly when he’s targeted.
“When we’ve gone to him, the consistency at which he’s made those plays has gotten better over time."
Asked about the value of both Watson and Reed in the locker room, he said: “Those guys are A+, you can’t ask for better guys.
“Both of those guys are deserving of what they got (paid) and we’re definitely excited about that whole nucleus, having them around for a while, MG (Matthew Golden), hopefully Tucker (Kraft)’s coming up soon, so having all those guys to build around Jordan (Love) I think is critical."
It is easy to forget that along with Watson being out for all of training camp a year ago, Reed also dealt with his own injury issues last summer.
Reed had been Green Bay’s top receiver in terms of yardage in both 2023 and 2024, LaFleur is hopeful having the duo available to continue to build their relationship with Jordan Love will be valuable.
He said: “The continuity piece is critical. It’s been a good offseason having everybody healthy and available, those two guys (Watson and Reed) in particular and I think they just continue to build on what they’ve done in the past."
Proving LaFleur’s point on the type of character Watson is, the fifth-year receiver insisted he will not rest on his laurels now, vowing: “I’m going to go out there every day with the mindset to continue to earn that contract every single day."
“I know regardless of how much money I make doing this, there’s still plenty of things that I have to get better at. There’s a bunch of things I want to continue to prove to myself that I can do, so I think it’s just having the right mentality going forward, not getting complacent."
Green Bay’s top four pass catchers look set, but Love reminded Packers fans not to forget about Savion Williams, a 3rd round pick from a year ago who was mostly limited to a gadget role, and himself dealt with various injuries from last offseason program through the end of the year.
Love named Williams as a player people should be asking about, explaining: “He’s another guy that will have that year two jump and I think for him, it’s just getting those reps and feeling more comfortable and confident with everything he does and just knowing the offense inside and out."
The Packers have made their choices with regards to which pass catchers they will be relying upon in their championship window, now it is up to them to prove the decision makers right.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers contract extensions make priorities clear at wide receiver
Continue reading...
