Last year, the Green Bay Packers and Christian Watson agreed to a one-year, $13.25 million extension, but that move doesn’t mean they can’t make a broader commitment. Both sides are free to negotiate a new long-term deal this offseason, and doing so would be the best outcome for both parties.
Despite making his season debut in Week 8, Watson still finished second among Green Bay’s receiving corps in targets, receiving yards, EPA per game, EPA per catch, and EPA per target. He also ranked first in yards per catch and tied for first in yards per game at 61.1 alongside Tucker Kraft. Moreover, Watson placed second league-wide among receivers with at least 50 targets in yards per catch.
Jordan Love performed at a significantly higher level when Watson was on the field last season. His QBR reached 77.7 with Watson in the lineup, compared to 69.5 without him. According to Next Gen Stats, Love also outperformed expectations more consistently in those situations, posting a +5.5% completion percentage over expectation versus +2.5% when Watson was off the field.
Love’s ball security and scoring efficiency also improved. He had a 5.5 touchdown-to-interception ratio alongside Watson, dropping to 3.0 without him. Over the 10 games Watson played in 2025, Love logged a 76.7 QBR — the second-best mark in the league in that span, behind only Brock Purdy.
There are now four seasons of evidence showing that when Christian Watson is healthy, he’s the most dangerous playmaker in Green Bay’s offense. That’s why there’s a compelling case to extend No. 9 and keep him in the building for the foreseeable future — and the alignment is there on both sides. During Super Bowl week, Watson shared that he wants a long-term future in Green Bay.
“Definitely,” Watson said about staying in Green Bay. “My goal is to be with Green Bay long term. That’s where I want to be. … Ideally, I’d like to get something done that keeps me there. I’ve got people around me who handle that side — I’m just focused on going out there and playing.”
Spotrac projects Watson to sign a three-year, $46.7 million deal in 2027 free agency — about $15.5 million per year. In my Packers offseason simulation, I valued him more aggressively, projecting a three-year, $67.5 million contract instead.
Based strictly on the Spotrac estimate, that would look like an overpay. But market reality — especially for explosive, field-tilting receivers — suggests his price could land much closer to the $20 million-per-year range annually if he delivers a fully healthy, high-impact season. At that level, the deal would still be justified by how influential he is in Matt LaFleur’s offense in the passing game and as a blocker.
Christian Watson turns 27 in May, and it would be reasonable to expect the Packers to pursue a new contract structure that keeps him tied to the organization into his early 30s. That timeline syncs up well with his prime years and the current competitive window of the roster.
Green Bay still needs to make a few cap adjustments, but those moves could create the flexibility required to be active this offseason — and one of the priorities should be working toward a new deal for No. 9.
