Christian Watson vs. Romeo Doubs: The Battle for a Second Contract: Packers’ Wide Receiver Decision Looms
The Green Bay Packers are the youngest team in the NFL this season, yet are heading back to the postseason for the second year in a row. General manager Brian Gutekunst has done an excellent job of finding high-quality skill players with whom to surround quarterback Jordan Love, who himself is just 26 years old.
Last season, a great deal was made of the fact that Love was going into his first year as the Packers starting quarterback without a single established veteran wide receiver. Instead, Green Bay chose to roll the dice with then second-year wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs and 2023 draft picks Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks.
In addition, the Packers’ 2023 tight end group was made up entirely of rookies: Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, and Ben Sims.
Fortunately for Green Bay, the talent Gutekunst added around Love via the NFL Draft has been playing at a high enough level to help the Packers be successful. Soon, however, the organization will face a difficult question: who will they keep?
The Green Bay Packers Have Several Players Up for Contract Extensions in 2025
Entering 2025, the Packers will have six members of their 2022 NFL Draft class up for contract extensions: Watson, Doubs, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Kingsley Enagbare, and Sean Rhyan.
Devante Wyatt and Quay Walker, their two first round picks that year, have fifth-year options Green Bay can pick up if they want to keep them in 2026, and hold off on giving them extensions (if they want to extend either of them).
Of the players listed above, Tom is by far the surest lock to get a second contract from the Packers. He plays at a Pro Bowl level and can play any of the five offensive line spots.
Next year, the team will have to make contract extension decisions on Reed, Musgrave, Kraft, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks, and Carrington Valentine. Of these players, Reed and Kraft seem like absolute locks, and Valentine is getting close.
With so many young players coming up due for new contracts, Green Bay is going to have to decide which players they will re-sign and which ones they will let depart in free agency. This is an especially intriguing question when it comes down to Watson and/or Doubs.
Will Christian Watson or Romeo Doubs Get a Second Contract from the Green Bay Packers?
To be clear: this is a good problem to have. The Packers have so many good young players that they realistically cannot afford to keep every single one of them. Knowing that Reed is going to get a contract extension after 2025, it makes sense, then, that Green Bay would only extend one of Watson or Doubs this upcoming offseason.
There are many fans who would like to see the Packers part ways with Watson for two reasons: his injury history and his drops. The problem with these reasons, though, is that they simply are not a factor in 2024. He has missed two games, one because of an ankle sprain on a questionable tackle and another with a bruised knee after a defender fell on it. His hamstring issues that plagued him in his first two seasons are a thing of the past.
As for drops, well, he has dropped just one pass all season.
As for Doubs, many feel like he is the better route runner and all-around wide receiver. However, one must wonder if his suspension for conduct detrimental to the team earlier this season may have affected how the organization views his future with them.
