Christian Watson signs a 4 year 110m extension

[CarryTheG14]

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2062557004841808328?s=20

Taking that all day. Love it. Going to be a steal if he's healthy allyear

 

[DABIGZ]

I like it!! I was worried it would have eclipsed the Alec Pierce or the London deal. Good work Gute.

 

[CarryTheG14]

I like it!! I was worried it would have eclipsed the Alec Pierce or the London deal. Good work Gute.

I think they had him as the 16th most paid WR. That's a hell of a deal done for Gute. Paying for his prime years.

 

[SudsMcBucky]

That locks up your top 2 WR targets for another 4 years. Awesome news!

 

[OldSchool101]

I think they had him as the 16th most paid WR.

Yep. I’m pretty sure that will trend downward with each passing contract handed out. Meaning if he’s here in year 2029 it won’t break the top 30

Drake London just signed a 4yr X $141Mil with $100Mil guar. Not suggesting they are comparable players, but more so showing the trend is needle up.

That locks up your top 2 WR targets for another 4 years. Awesome news!

It’s sort of a relief. We know we’re got Golden or Savion locked for 3 or 4 years if needed also. Im totally ok with that $$ as its really more upper WR2 $ and roughly a 2yr commitment.

 

[OldSchool101]

This contract for me answers some concerns. The 2 areas of instability to me are both RB and WR. After losing Doubs and Wicks those were essentially 2 of our top 4 producers. Doubs was a great pick in Round 4. He did everything you can ask for. The reality is he'd still be the WR3 or WR4 behind Reed, Watson and possibly Golden. We can’t pay a WR3-4 $15Mil annual or whatever he got.
That said it’s highly likely Golden continues to rise and earns more targets. Not being mean towards Doubs but he really benefited from Watson and Reed missing time. I mean their injuries and him capitalizing on it made him a boatload of cash.

 

[OldSchool101]

It is an interesting comparative though. Both Drake London and Christian Watson were drafted in 2022

Drake has averaged 1,085 All purpose Yards per season.
6 TD’s per season.
63.9 yards per game
12.8 per touch.
NEW CONTRACT $35.25Mil annual; $100Mil guar

Watson has averaged 845 All purpose Yards per season
8 TD’s per season
49.6 yards per game
16.0 per touch
NEW CONTRACT: $27.6Mil annual; $31M guar.

Watson has produced 80% of Londons All purpose yards
Watson had produce exactly the same 20 TD level (100% of Londons TD)
Watson has started (45) games

London has started (60) games

Watson’s contract is 79% of Londons deal $. But Watson only received 31% of London’s Guaranteed. If Watson does have a streak of good health he’s likely to produce around the similar impact to London but has a more dynamic upside in pure Scoring potential.

I think GB did great on this deal.
On their current contract, Drake counts $16.8Mil Cap in 2026.
Christian counts $9.96Mil Cap spread across 2026-2027(void)

 

[AmishMafia]

It is an interesting comparative though. Both Drake London and Christian Watson were drafted in 2022

Drake has averaged 1,085 All purpose Yards per season.
6 TD’s per season.
63.9 yards per game
12.8 per touch.
NEW CONTRACT $35.25Mil annual; $100Mil guar

Watson has averaged 845 All purpose Yards per season
8 TD’s per season
49.6 yards per game
16.0 per touch
NEW CONTRACT: $27.6Mil annual; $31M guar.

Watson has produced 80% of Londons All purpose yards
Watson had produce exactly the same 20 TD level (100% of Londons TD)
Watson has started (45) games

London has started (60) games

Watson’s contract is 79% of Londons deal $. But Watson only received 31% of London’s Guaranteed. If Watson does have a streak of good health he’s likely to produce around the similar impact to London but has a more dynamic upside in pure Scoring potential.

I think GB did great on this deal.
On their current contract, Drake counts $16.8Mil Cap in 2026.
Christian counts $9.96Mil Cap spread across 2026-2027(void)

Production is also based on opportunities. With Reed and Doubs taking a lot of the targets, Watson didnt have as many opportunities.

 

[lambeaulambo]

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[OldSchool101]

Production is also based on opportunities. With Reed and Doubs taking a lot of the targets, Watson didnt have as many opportunities.

Absolutely last season Christian Watson had 418 snaps Drake London had 709 O snaps

 

[Cornelius Weems]

I looked it up, he only had more than 35 catches in ONE of his 4 NFL seasons, his rookie season where he had 41. I know, some may say that's because he's been injured, but that's my point, he's been hurt more often than not. He's making money like he's a very clear #1, but has he shown it for even half a NFL season? His salary is now that of a top 16 WR, but has he shown it consistently? Before RD left did everyone think that CW was our best WR?

 

[milani]

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2062557004841808328?s=20

Taking that all day. Love it. Going to be a steal if he's healthy allyear

If we did not sign him someone else would have. His health will always be fragile, however.

 

[Heyjoe4]

If we did not sign him someone else would have. His health will always be fragile, however.

Agreed. This is a reasonable deal for Watson, given his injury history. He did come back from an ACL tear in 9.5 months, I think, and looked to be in mid-season form when he didi. He missed one game after a shoulder hit, but his soft tissue injuries, specifically hamstrings, seem to have been resolved.

I'm glad their top two WRs are locked up, and the 3rd is still on a rookie deal. Time to also pay Kraft and get him locked in.

That leaves RB as a huge "?" going into TC.

 

[CarryTheG14]

If we did not sign him someone else would have. His health will always be fragile, however.

I always say, you're only injury prone until you're not.

I remember when Julio Jones was injury prone.

Watson seemed to have his hamstring issue behind him, and the ACL was a freak accident. Hopefully that ends it. Football is a violent sport. S*** happens

 

[Heyjoe4]

I always say, you're only injury prone until you're not.

I remember when Julio Jones was injury prone.

Watson seemed to have his hamstring issue behind him, and the ACL was a freak accident. Hopefully that ends it. Football is a violent sport. S*** happens

Nicely said. Yeah it seems Watson did a lot of research and work re: his chronic hamstring injuries. The ACL tear was non-contact, same as Parsons.

And yeah that kind of shit happens in the NFL. Kraft's ACL tear was just as weird when he was accidentally kicked - I think by a teammate.

So yeah, you're injury-prone until you're not. It is an almost compete case of bad luck. It happens to superbly conditioned athletes - Watson, Kraft, and Parsons are examples.

 

[CarryTheG14]

This is so f'n exciting.

Jordan's weapons are set for the next 4ish years if everything goes well. Kraft will be done, Watson and Reed just re-signed, Golden/Savion on rookie deals.

We can focus on the defense. We can focus on the O-line. This is awesome

 

[Cornelius Weems]

I hope that this posts correctly, but here are his career stats at WR:

Career stats

Year	Team	REC Total receptions	YDS Receiving yards	AVG Receiving yards per reception	TD Receiving touchdowns
2025	GB	35	611	17.5	6
2024	GB	29	620	21.4	2
2023	GB	28	422	15.1	5
2022	GB	41	611	14.9	7

 

[tynimiller]

That locks up your top 2 WR targets for another 4 years. Awesome news!

Eh structure of Watson will make this valid or not. Reed is 17 each of his last two which is more than easy to do if he is producing or easily walked away from

Watson structure hasn't been released yet that ive seen

 

[mradtke66]

Eh structure of Watson will make this valid or not. Reed is 17 each of his last two which is more than easy to do if he is producing or easily walked away from

And scarily, if he's healthy over the next two years and produces as expected, you could argue he's underpaid. I wouldn't be surprised if he's extended mid year 3.

 

[tynimiller]

And scarily, if he's healthy over the next two years and produces as expected, you could argue he's underpaid. I wouldn't be surprised if he's extended mid year 3.

If I’m hearing it described right it’s a four year extension so to lock him up for five seasons is awesome but I’m guessing MASSIVE fifth year is likely and it ain’t gonna happen.

 

[Magooch]

Yeah as I was saying in the other thread I think it's a really friendly deal for us. Basically it's like a 5 year 116m contract if you wanna look at it that way. Add in the fact that it's only something like 31m guaranteed and even IF he can't stay healthy and on the field it should be a relatively easy out. I mean no disrespect but even Doubs got 39m guaranteed.

So basically he is getting paid like a high-end WR2 or a low-end WR1, like a guy who is on the fringe of the top 20 or thereabouts. But Watson's play IMO is closer to a top 10 guy.

For instance last season he and Alec Pierce were the only two players in the league to average 17.5+ yards per catch with at least 55 targets. In 2024, he was one of only three. He's second to Pierce over the last two years in yards per target and in the top 10 for yards per route run. His DYAR (defense adjusted yards above replacement) is top-10 in the league and he did so while missing 7 games. Everyone ahead of him played 15+ games. Last year he graded out as the 11th-best WR by PFF, and was 2nd last season in DVOA too.
Long story short, while he has not always logged the pure volume of stats, the numbers that speak to his impact when he plays are GREAT.

If he stays healthy, it's a steal. If he gets hurt and misses a lot of time, well, like above - relatively low guarantees so it shouldn't be too hard to get out from under

 

[OldSchool101]

I looked it up, he only had more than 35 catches in ONE of his 4 NFL seasons, his rookie season where he had 41. I know, some may say that's because he's been injured, but that's my point, he's been hurt more often than not. He's making money like he's a very clear #1, but has he shown it for even half a NFL season? His salary is now that of a top 16 WR, but has he shown it consistently? Before RD left did everyone think that CW was our best WR?

First what I don’t like about that statement is it’s misleading. When we consider Bigger WR contracts (with a total value of $30Mil+) Watson’s guaranteed ranks #36/37, near dead last.
In addition with Watson $$ it seems we’ve all but forgotten today. Is he making $27.6Mil today? No! Then why are we being led to pretend like he’s making that in the 2026 season??? Go look, he has a $9.95Mil Cap hit this year. The contract comparison they speak of is in the future. It’s an EXTENSION not a Restructured deal. It’s misleading because it doesn’t factor 2026, which at best argument lowers his $$ to $24Mil AAV over 5 seasons. That would rank #19 across that 5yr spectrum and will most certainly drop in ranking with each passing year. #19 today won’t be #19 in the year 2027,2028,2029 etc. as more players get added above his AAV he drops in pecking order.

Now let’s explore his impact.
His 2.28 Y/RR puts him just behind Drake London and right ahead of Nico Collins and Ja’Marr Chase. These players average an AAV of $35 million.

Yeah but what has he done lately? Isn’t that the way this league works? Let’s look. Last season Christian ranked #9 of 91 quality WR’s in yards per route ran. He’s highly efficient when on the field. His PFF grade in 2025 was an overall 86.7%!

Yeah but that’s the small picture what about the big picture?! Since Watson started in Green Bay.. The scoring EPA is .088 points per play in games when Watson played. When he’s not on the field? That cuts in 1/2 to .460.
To give some semblance thats ranks #3 in EPA and ahead of the Dallas Cowboys .ranked across that span. Who are the receivers in Dallas since 2022? That group (.080) has performed worse per play than Green Bay with Watson! Correct me if I’m wrong but Dallas has had Ceedee Lamb and not recently George Pickens and average ranking of #8.25 scoring Offense.

Green Bay is highly efficient when he’s on that field and very uninspiring when he’s not on the field. The key to his contract being value is all tied to playing time. Yet the low $31Mil guar counts for that. I don’t see any problem with it.

 

[Cornelius Weems]

First what I don’t like about that statement is it’s misleading. When we consider Bigger WR contracts (with a total value of $30Mil+) Watson’s guaranteed ranks #36/37, near dead last.
In addition with Watson $$ it seems we’ve all but forgotten today. Is he making $27.6Mil today? No! Then why are we being led to pretend like he’s making that in the 2026 season??? Go look, he has a $9.95Mil Cap hit this year. The contract comparison they speak of is in the future. It’s an EXTENSION not a Restructured deal. It’s misleading because it doesn’t factor 2026, which at best argument lowers his $$ to $24Mil AAV over 5 seasons. That would rank #19 across that 5yr spectrum and will most certainly drop in ranking with each passing year. #19 today won’t be #19 in the year 2027,2028,2029 etc. as more players get added above his AAV he drops in pecking order.

Now let’s explore his impact.
His 2.28 Y/RR puts him just behind Drake London and right ahead of Nico Collins and Ja’Marr Chase. These players average an AAV of $35 million.

Yeah but what has he done lately? Isn’t that the way this league works? Let’s look. Last season Christian ranked #9 of 91 quality WR’s in yards per route ran. He’s highly efficient when on the field. His PFF grade in 2025 was an overall 86.7%!

Yeah but that’s the small picture what about the big picture?! Since Watson started in Green Bay.. The scoring EPA is .088 points per play in games when Watson played. When he’s not on the field? That cuts in 1/2 to .460.
To give some semblance thats ranks #3 in EPA and ahead of the Dallas Cowboys .ranked across that span. Who are the receivers in Dallas since 2022? That group (.080) has performed worse per play than Green Bay with Watson! Correct me if I’m wrong but Dallas has had Ceedee Lamb and not recently George Pickens and average ranking of #8.25 scoring Offense.

Green Bay is highly efficient when he’s on that field and very uninspiring when he’s not on the field. The key to his contract being value is all tied to playing time. Yet the low $31Mil guar counts for that. I don’t see any problem with it.

I'm not going say he ever has a five year deal because he doesn't, so I won't. I also can't put my faith in his 2.28 Y/RR, because really? Was that a route ran stat? I'm not saying that CW is bad, but I also want to see a player be able to eclipse more than 30 passes caught for more than half of their seasons is all. I also thought that the whole point of having a "prove it" contract, was to make sure a player had to actually "prove it" during the season of said contract. Again I'm not I'm not saying CW is trash, because I don't believe he is, but I do think that he had to fulfill the "prove it" year before we gave him a larger deal. I mean am wrong in thinking that he had to honor the extension we gave him before giving him $110 million with $31 million guaranteed?