The NFL's annual league meeting just took place in Phoenix, giving media members from America's Dairyland the opportunity to talk to Packers GM Brian Gutekunst about the team's moves thus far. While he discussed an array of topics, one of Gutekunst's most interesting lines came when discussing the future of receiver Christian Watson.
Gutekunst made it clear that he wants to keep Watson around for the long haul. Going as far as to suggest that he believes an extension would be "beneficial for both player and team."
"Certainly, we would like Christian around," Gutekunst stated, via Zach Kruse of Packers Wire. "He did an amazing job with his rehab process and was just a true pro. He's a unique individual as well, and he did a lot of really good things for us the second half of the season. That'll be something, I think, that would be good for both of us if we could do that. We'll kind of see how that goes."
And while April's draft is at the forefront of the mind, it looks like the discussions around a Watson extension are being had.
Packers Open to Christian Watson Contract Extension
In 2025, Green Bay and Watson agreed on a one-year, $11 million deal extension. It was a deal that gave the player some money while he rehabbed his way back from a torn ACL. He knew that he had left money on the table, but it was about sticking around Green Bay as he fought back from a major injury.
He ended up suiting up in 10 games for the Packers in 2025, where he ranked second on the team in receiving yards (611) with 35 catches and six touchdowns in 10 games. During Watson's four years in Green Bay, he's dealt with knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries that forced him to miss time. He hasn't played an entire season since entering the league, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been productive.
In 48 games (45 starts), Watson has compiled 133 catches (227 targets) for 2,264 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. The 26-year-old has elite deep speed, standing at 6'4", which gives them a big body weapon who can reel in contested catches. He's developed a great rapport with Jordan Love, so it makes a ton of sense to keep him around.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (four years, $168 million) and Alec Pierce (four years, $114 million) were the two biggest deals given to receivers this offseason. George Pickens could be next up, but the Dallas Cowboys placed the franchise tag on him. Granted, Watson isn't in this tier of receivers, but he'll likely get an extension that pays him in the ballpark of $23-$27 million annually. If we were to get a deal in that range, it would be a bargain with how much receivers are getting paid.
The Packers also have Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft, Dontayvion Wicks, and the aforementioned Watson slated to hit free agency next offseason. With that being a year away, they want to get ahead of it, and Watson is someone who fans should expect to get a new deal from the Packers sooner rather than later.