The Green Bay Packers' decision to give Christian Watson a four-year, $110 million contract has been getting ripped apart by anyone with a platform over the last few days. Not only are the Packers committing nine figures to him after paying Jayden Reed and drafting Matthew Golden, but bhis injury history and middling production puts this way amove market value.
Watson is regarded so poorly across the league, even after the deal, that when Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame unveiled his ranking of all 32 "triplets" (quarterback, running back, top pass-catcher) across the NFL, Watson wasn't even included in Green Bay's 18th-ranked entry, as Tucker Kraft earned that honor.
The fact that Watson isn't even regarded as the best pass-catcher on his own team, which lacks high-end options, yet is being paid like someone who should hitting 1,000 yards with ease, should be very frightening to Packers fans, especially as available cap space becomes even more rare.
Christian Watson not even ranked as top Packers pass-catcher
Every Packers fan has their own reason not to have paid Watson that contract. Some don't want to give him the deal due to his injuries, others because of the fact he has never topped 620 yards in four seasons, and even more due to the fact they have made it even more difficult for Golden to get targets.
Watson is very good at filling a very specific role as a field-stretching boundry receiver. However, is it worth paying him right after the wide receiver market exploded just because he has a unique skillset on the roster? Watson has missed games in each of his four seasons in the league, and he's likely not going to turn into Wolverine after his extension hits. The injuries are going to be a problem beyon 2026.
There's a very good chance that Watson ends this season as the fourth-most targeted receiver on this team. Kraft is emerging as one of the best receiving tight ends in the league, Golden will likely be better in his second season, and Reed remains a great underneath separator. Watson's volume may not be there.
Paying Watson like a high-end No. 2 wide receiver when his production isn't even that of an average WR2 is questionable enough, but when a cheap young tight end like Kraft is proving to be the more reliable pass-catching option, that should set off alarm bells in Brian Gutekunst's head.
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