The Green Bay Packers decided to take care of their receivers this offseason, and the latest one to get an extension was receiver Christian Watson. The numbers on the contract were released, and it's actually a four-year, $92.5 million deal, with his APY putting him inside the top 20 for receivers.
It's a good deal for Green Bay, and head coach Matt LaFleur made his first comments regarding the deal before minicamp practice. LaFleur expressed that he's "fired up" regarding the extension.
"He embodies what we want to be about," LaFleur said. "He's a team-first kind of guy. Never once, over the course of four years, have I ever heard him complain about not getting the ball."
"He does all the little things the right way. He handles himself the right way. He's a great teammate. He busts his butt every day when he comes in the building. He does all the dirty work in the run game. So I was super fired up for him."
While it was clear that the team thought highly of Watson, seeing LaFleur's comments paints a clear picture of the excitement not just of the player, but of the kind of person Watson is for this team.
Matt LaFleur comments show how happy Packers are with Christian Watson extension
At first, fans saw the initial report of $110 million, and some felt that was too hefty a price to pay. But inside that building, they are pumped, and LaFleur's comments show that. Despite Watson dealing with several injuries throughout his Packers career, they are more than confident in his skills going forward.
Instead of standing pat and allowing Watson to play on the final year of his deal, they rewarded a player who was drafted, developed, and produced for this team. Over 48 games (45 starts), he has logged 133 receptions for 2,264 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.
He has yet to record more than 620 receiving yards in a season, in large part because he hasn't played in a full season and hasn't been the primary read. Nonetheless, that could change going forward.
Jayden Reed was also extended this offseason, with the trio of Reed, Watson, and Matthew Golden expected to be the top WRs one through three for this team. But Watson's height (6-foot-4) and deep speed give him a different role in this offense.
In his career, he has averaged 17.0 yards per reception, which isn't anything to sneeze at. That skillset pairs perfectly with quarterback Jordan Love's big arm and knack for taking deep shots. LaFleur knows what Watson brings to the table when healthy and is thrilled to keep him around.
Praising his character is massive and made the team comfortable extending him. He's going to be a focal point of this offense for the foreseeable future, and LaFleur's comments confirm that. Watson wanted to stay in Titletown, and when he sees these statements from his coach, it will make his decision feel that much better.
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