Packers Give Christian Watson Massive Contract Extension

The Green Bay Packers have been devoid of a true No. 1 receiver since trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2022.

It’s been receiving by the committee over the past four seasons, and when Jordan Love took over as starting quarterback in 2023, the Packers’ calling card has been depth and youth.

Love lacking a dominant No. 1 was viewed as an asset if only because he had an embarrassment of riches between Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Matthew Golden - and that’s before mentioning star tight end Tucker Kraft.

The Packers crystallized the picture for Love this offseason: Watson, 27, is No. 1 in Green Bay moving forward.

“Green Bay WR Christian Watson and the Packers reached agreement today on a four-year, $110.5 million contract extension that includes a $31 million signing bonus,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday.

Previously this offseason, the Packers let Doubs walk in free agency to the New England Patriots,traded Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles, and extended Reed on a three-year, $50 million contract.

Watson can produce wow highlights with the best of them when he’s healthy - a deep-ball and goal-line threat in equal measure. His ability to make contested catches clearly earned Love’s trust.

The issue, through no fault of his own, is that he has missed time due to injuries in each of his first four seasons. Watson tore his ACL in January 2025, which kept him out until Week 8 of last season. After that, he posted 611 yards and six touchdowns on 35 receptions across 10 regular-season games.

With the WR room less crowded, it will be incumbent upon Watson to be available. It would also help tremendously if Golden could take a jump in Year 2, and Kraft could return to form after tearing his ACL last November.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 9:24 PM.