Though not a snap of regular-season football has been played, looking ahead to the 2026 offseason will reveal some important information as to which Green Bay Packers players need to make a significant leap to stay on the team. Several starters' contracts will be expiring this offseason, including a large group of pass-catchers.
The way general manager Brian Gutekunst attacked this year's draft signals a major change for the way the team is approaching the wide receiver room. With the drafting of Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, the team has a wealth of quality pass-catchers, but no clear No. 1 option for quarterback Jordan Love.
This coming offseason will see two of Love's top targets, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, become unrestricted free agents. With contracts coming to an end, it is easy to assume that not everyone will be returning.
Key contract decisions loom for several Packers starters
Christian Watson
Watson has shown amazing flashes through his three-year career with the team, but he has suffered from injuries. A dynamic deep threat, Watson has an astounding career 16.9 yards per reception average for his time with the Packers. He is an elite athlete who showcases amazing speed and size, but has only played in 38 games out of a possible 51, and will start this season on the PUP list stemming from a knee injury he sustained last season.
While on the field, no one can deny Watson's impact on the game. It will be interesting to see if Gutekunst thinks it's worth committing a large contract to someone who can't stay healthy. This is a similar situation to what happened with star cornerback Jaire Alexander, who couldn't stay healthy and was let go this offseason.
Romeo Doubs
Doubs, on the other hand, has been able to play more than Watson, but has other issues with his game. Doubs is known best for his ability to make difficult contested catches, most memorable from last season being his catch in the back of the end zone against the Seattle Seahawks. Doubs has the surest hands of the three with a catch percentage of 62.6% over his three seasons with the team.
While Doubs has played more than Watson and Wicks, he has a chance to be let go after this season due to issues off the field. Last season, the Packers suspended Doubs for one game for skipping practice and meetings during the week of preparation.
Doubs has had a ton of notable performances, such as putting up 151 yards and a touchdown in the playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. However, he hasn't taken the step towards becoming a true No. 1 receiver yet.
Dontayvion Wicks
As for Wicks, he exemplifies the biggest problem with the Packers' wide receiver room. Wicks is an amazing route-runner who is consistently able to get open. The problem is that he had nine drops last season, which tied for the third-most in the NFL.
The Packers had a combined 25 dropped passes between Wicks, Doubs, and Jayden Reed, which is just unacceptable. Wicks has amazing potential, being only 24, so there is still plenty of time for him to turn his drop problem around and utilize the amazing route-running he showcases.
Quay Walker
Arguably, the biggest decision the Packers will need to make this coming offseason is on linebacker Quay Walker and whether he is the permanent solution to wear the green dot for the defense. Gutekunst declined his fifth-year option this offseason but made it clear he wants Walker back on a new deal.
While Walker is a talented pass rusher and run defender, he has had his struggles in coverage, registering only a 48.8 grade from Pro Football Focus last season. Walker has yet to take that big step in his development that would solidify him as a star on this team, and with the emergence of rookie Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie, the team may feel that they could save money by not overpaying for Walker.
If Walker takes the next step this season, the Packers can offer him a contract extension, but if not, the team still has great linebacker depth with players like Ty'Ron Hopper waiting to get a chance. Walker is a solid starter at this point in his career, so it will be interesting to monitor how he plays going into this contract year.
Rasheed Walker
One of the other positions Gutekunst addressed early in the draft was tackle, selecting Anthony Belton in the second. Belton played tackle in college but could fill in nicely at guard. This brings into question the future of starting left tackle Rasheed Walker.
Walker stepped in for long-time star David Bakhtiari in 2023 and has not looked back, playing 1,926 snaps for the team over the past two years. In that time, Walker has played respectably, but with the Packers drafting tackle Jordan Morgan with their first-round pick in the 2024 draft, it seems like they would prefer to transition to a new starter.
Given how Walker has been a healthy starter on a great offensive line for two years at one of the most important positions in the league, he could get offered a giant contract from a team desperate to fill that position. That offer may not come from Green Bay.