Christian Watson’s Green Bay Packers future has been clouded since he tore his ACL in Week 18 last year. Although he’s progressed well following surgery, Watson will likely begin the 2025 campaign on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, before hopefully returning later in the year. Barring an extension, in the offseason he will become a free agent for the first time of his career.
There have also been rumors that the Packers could try to move him, although that seems less probable than simply losing him in free agency. Coming off an injury, his trade value would not be high. They could also just cut him, as only $150,000 of his 2025 salary is guaranteed, per Spotrac. “Locked On Packers” host Peter Bukowski, however, believes Green Bay will make a serious effort to retain the fourth-year receiver.
Watson hasn’t grown into No. 1 option, but he can still do good things for this Green Bay Packers roster
Since being drafted 34th overall in 2022, Watson has not been able to stay healthy. Battling through injury, he managed to play 15 games last season, a career-high, but he also saw his role reduced. Still the Packers’ main deep threat, he averaged 21.4 yards per catch but only drew 53 targets, the same number he saw in nine games the season prior. He averaged his lowest receptions per game and found the end zone just twice.
Watson has obviously been hampered, preventing him from achieving his ceiling, but at this point he doesn’t look like the No. 1 option the team hoped he could be.
Drafting Matthew Golden gives Green Bay that potential top target, another deep threat, and less need for a guy like Watson. That doesn’t mean they won’t work well together, complementing each other’s skillsets, or that the Packers should let Watson walk or trade him.
“Really think if Watson comes back healthy, the Packers will try to keep him,” Bukowski posted on Twitter. “Coaches love him. GM traded a lot to get him. He’s shown some incredible flashes.”
As Bukowski observes, the franchise has already invested team stock in Watson by trading up to get him. It also helps that coach Matt LaFleur is perhaps his biggest fan. Via Packers writer Zach Jacobson of 247Sports:
“Christian’s another guy that just—to watch him mature over the years, he’s a great teammate, a great leader on our football team and he’s got a lot of experience, both positively and then fighting through adversity,” LaFleur said. “I think he’s a great guy to lean on for those guys. I can’t say enough great things about him.”
Strange to think that Watson, just 26, is one of the receiver room’s grizzled mentors, but that’s what he is. Romeo Doubs, another Packers pick from the class of ’22, is only a year younger but has shown maturity issues. Mecole Hardman, 27 and a six-year vet, was just signed this offseason. He is not as acquainted with the franchise.
And, of course, Watson still has plenty of talent. Golden emerging as a clearcut No. 1 might actually make retaining the former a more obvious choice. If the rookie struggles – he’s looked awesome in training camp – Green Bay could look to add a reliable producer at the trade deadline or in free agency in place of the oft-injured Watson. The best-case scenario for Packers fans, for whom Watson is a frustrating but popular player, is having them both on the team together.
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