On Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers and Christian Watson agreed to a one-year, $13.25 million contract extension, tying the star wide receiver to the organization through the 2026 season. The deal includes a $11 million base extension, effectively keeping Watson under contract for two years with a total value of nearly $13 million. Of that, $6 million is fully guaranteed as a signing bonus, while the $11 million base also incorporates $1.85 million in 46-man roster bonuses for the upcoming season.
Even in the midst of rehab for his torn ACL, the Packers are rewarding WR Christian Watson with a one-year, $13.25 million contract extension, per his agent Adisa Bakari. The extension ties Watson to Green Bay through the 2026 season, allows him to focus on getting healthy and… pic.twitter.com/kdGSY9PThl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 10, 2025
Watson started a career-high 15 games in 2024 before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in Week 18’s regular-season finale against the Chicago Bears. While his father suggested he might return around the second half of next season, Watson’s rehab is reportedly progressing very well, raising the possibility of an earlier return.
While he has never produced like an elite wide receiver, Watson’s combination of size and speed is difficult to replicate. He’s not only one of Green Bay’s most dynamic playmakers with the football in his hands but also a player whose speed stretches the field vertically, opening up underneath spaces and helping ignite the short and intermediate passing games.
Christian Watson will be missed while he's out with injury, look at how he clears space and pulls Vikings linebacker, Blake Cashman, making for an easy explosive play for Love to Reed. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/19xeT2ixF7
— Garrison Anderson (@gentlemanTBD) October 1, 2024
Locking in Watson on this short-term deal was a smart move by the Packers. His injury history would have made it difficult to land a lucrative, multi-year contract in free agency. By opting for a one-year extension, the Packers are allowing Watson to fully recover from his knee injury, return to the field in 2025, and play a full season in 2026 before potentially hitting the free-agent market in 2027.
As noted by AtozSports’ Wendell Ferreira, the extension was also a smart way for the Packers to respond to the Minnesota Vikings’ approach in the 2022 draft. Green Bay had hoped to trade up to the 32nd pick to select Watson, but the Vikings declined to avoid giving them the fifth-year option.
“Back in 2022, the Packers wanted to trade up to the 32nd-overall pick with the Minnesota Vikings to select Watson in the first round,” Ferreira wrote. “However, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah declined the offer, accepting a similar deal for the 34th pick. By doing that, the Vikings avoided a scenario where the Packers would have the fifth-year option for Watson.
“With this deal, Green Bay reaches an agreement that is similar to what a fifth-year option would be,” he added, “so Brian Gutekunst compensates for that failed attempt three years ago.”
Green Bay also landed great value with Watson’s deal. For comparison, the Detroit Lions just gave Jameson Williams an extension worth $27.6 million per year. Meanwhile, Watson’s deal is only for one year at $13.25 million — and he has been the more productive receiver throughout his career compared to Williams.
Career numbers
Christian Watson: 38 games, 98 receptions, 1,653 receiving yards, 17 total touchdowns
Jameson Williams: 33 games, 83 receptions, 1,396 receiving yards, 12 total touchdowns
APY
Jameson Williams 27.6M
Christian Watson: 13.25M
— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) September 10, 2025
Another comparison highlighted by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was Tutu Atwell’s new contract with the Los Angeles Rams, a one-year deal worth $10 million. By that standard, $13.25 million for Watson feels like a bargain. Even with some injury risk, Watson brings tremendous value as a vertical threat and one of the team’s most reliable blockers at wide receiver. There’s always some risk involved, but this move was an easy decision for Green Bay.
This deal is also a big win for Watson. As mentioned before, his injury history would not have helped him in negotiations with other teams. The Packers clearly value him as a player and a person. Now he gets at least a season and a half with one of the league’s best offensive minds in Matt LaFleur, a top-10 quarterback in Jordan Love, and a coaching staff that genuinely cares about him on and off the field. Plus, he gets to make some extra cash while proving he can stay healthy before hitting free agency again.
Anyone who has ever heard Matt LaFleur talk about him in a press conference knows how much Watson is valued in the locker room, both as a player and a person.
Plus, his rehab must be going well. https://t.co/fBDCKa7wPe
— Felipe Reis Aceti (@Aceti_Felipe) September 10, 2025
Watson’s deal feels very similar to the one-year contract extension the Packers gave Jordan Love, worth up to $22.5 million for the 2023 season. At that time, Green Bay was still unsure what they had in Love and wanted one more year to evaluate him before committing long-term. The same logic applies here with Watson — the team wants to see if he can stay healthy for a full season before considering a bigger, longer extension.
If Christian Watson stays healthy, he becomes Jordan Love’s top target. He led all Green Bay receivers in receiving grade last season, averaged 3.34 yards per route run against man coverage — no other receiver topped 1.65 — and dropped just 6.5% of his targets, better than Doubs (9.8%), Reed (15.4%), and Wicks (17.0%). If he proves he can stay on the field, I’ll be shocked if the Packers let him walk. But first, he must prove he can stay healthy over the next two seasons.