The Packers didn’t sit around this offseason. Green Bay locked up two of its young wide receivers to extensions and shipped a third one out of town. ESPN’s Seth Walder walked through the moves and basically gave the front office a B-plus with a question mark attached.
The headline grabber was Christian Watson’s new deal. Four years, $23 million per year according to OverTheCap.com. That’s a lot of money for a guy who has missed games in every season of his career. But Walder sees the logic clearly.
“Watson averaged a remarkable 2.74 yards per route run last season and has averaged at least 2.35 in three of his four pro seasons,” Walder wrote. “At that rate, he has a great chance to exceed the value of the deal with Green Bay.”
The argument is simple: when Watson is on the field, he’s a nightmare for defenses. The bet is that he stays healthy enough to turn those per-route numbers into a full season of production. It’s a gamble, but one Walder respects.
Jayden Reed’s extension got a thumbs-up too
Green Bay also gave Jayden Reed a new deal, and the numbers are a little friendlier. Reed will make $16.75 million per year. That’s what a capable WR2 costs these days, maybe even a bargain if Reed takes another step.
“Reed is a similar story, albeit at a lower magnitude. He missed time last year, but he has averaged more than 2.0 yards per route run in all three seasons of his career,” Walder wrote. “Another deal I like.”
The consistency is there. Reed has been a reliable target since he got drafted, and the Packers essentially paid him like a solid number two option. That feels like a fair market price for a guy who produces every time he steps on the grass.
But trading Dontayvion Wicks? That’s where Walder hesitates
The one move that gave Walder pause was the Packers sending Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles for fifth- and sixth-round picks. Not a huge return for a guy who can get open.
“The only receiver transaction I’m lukewarm on is the Wicks deal. They got fifth- and sixth-round picks for him, but I believe Wicks — who has shown an above-average ability to get open throughout his career — might have more production in him than he has shown to date,” Walder wrote.
Wicks has flashed. The question is whether the Packers should have waited to see if that flash becomes a steady flame. Instead they dealt him for late-round picks and will roll with Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, both of whom have yet to prove much at the NFL level. Could work out. Could also be a move they look back on and regret.
Green Bay finished 9-7-1 last season and made the playoffs before losing to the Bears. The receiving corps looks different now. Whether it looks better might depend on Watson’s hamstrings and whether the young guys behind him hit early.
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