GLENDALE – Shocker late in NFL offseason, as the Green Bay Packers signed wide receiver Christian Watson to a nine-figure deal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that the Green Bay signed Watson to a four-year, $110.5 million extension, with a $31 million signing bonus.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The 27-year-old is coming off a 2025 seasons with 35 catches and 611 receiving yards. In Watson’s first four seasons, he hasn’t recorded a 1000-yard season. Thus begging the question, how much is the Arizona Cardinals about to pay for Michael Wilson’s extension?
Oct 13, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) scores a touchdown in front of Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Watson major deal brings trouble to Cardinals:
Wilson is coming off a Year 3 where he recorded his first 1000-yard season on 78 catches with seven touchdowns. He was one of 20 players to reach that mark, with Indianapolis Colts’ Alec Pierce one of those names and just signing a four-year, $114 million deal. Watson’s $27.5 million and Pierce’s $28 million annual salary puts the price tag extremely high for the Cardinals to pay Wilson.
Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The 26-year-old and his agent will just point to those two contracts and state that Wilson is better than those two names and should be paid more. For reference, Pierce is now the 10th highest total value contract in the NFL, while Watson is 11th. Arizona is in a tough spot because it could wait till next season to lock in an extension and give Wilson a four-year deal instead of three, but the market will surely only increase in that time.
Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort discusses the upcoming NFL Draft during a press conference at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe on April 16, 2025. © Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
General manager Monti Ossenfort will have to worry about Paris Johnson Jr.’s extension too, and then next offseason it’ll be Marvin Harrison Jr.’s time. The franchise has plenty of cap space for 2027, projected to be over $100 million, but investing in a core that just won three games is mentally hard. Wilson clearly deserves a pay day, but will the Cardinals be the team to do it? Or will the price be too much for a franchise not known for paying talent?
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
