Packers face major dilemma at premium position with timeline nearing an unavoidable inflection point
Several wide receivers are in contract year.
The Green Bay Packers have invested more draft capital in the wide receiver position than any other NFL team since 2022. That’s not hyperbole. The Packers literally used more and higher draft picks to select receivers since moving on from Davante Adams, but there’s still a lot to figure out.
Inflection point for the WR room
Because the Packers took three wide receivers in 2022 (Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure) and three in 2023 (Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Grant DuBose), depth hasn’t been a problem for the past few years. However, the rookie contract timeline for these players created an inflection point for the front office.
Toure and DuBose are long gone, but Romeo Doubs left in free agency after solid four years in Green Bay. Watson reached a short-term extension, but 2026 is the last year of it, alongside Reed and Wicks.
Skyy Moore signed a one-year deal in free agency, while developmental pieces Will Sheppard, Isaiah Neyor, and Jakobie Keeney-James are all set to become exclusive-rights free agents.
That combination of factors means that the Packers only have two wide receivers under contract beyond 2026 at this moment — the two players drafted in 2025, first-rounder Matthew Golden and third-rounder Savion Williams.
The Packers hope that Golden and Williams become great players, even though there isn’t enough evidence at this point to make definitive proclamations.
Either way, the front office has some tough decisions to make over the next few months.
Extension candidates
Christian Watson signed a one-year extension coming back from a torn ACL last year, and the deal was structured in a way to allow the Packers to reach a new, long-term extension before the regular season. After a fantastic 2025 season in terms of efficiency, Watson is by far the most likely candidate to get a long contract.
A year ago, you could say that the most likely candidate was Jayden Reed, who led the Packers in receiving yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. A broken collarbone affected his production in 2025, though, and his limitations as a slot receiver make things a little more difficult. It’s possible that the Packers find a way to keep him, but it will likely depend on how much they trust Golden and Williams moving forward.
Dontayvion Wicks had an intriguing rookie year as a fifth-round pick, but regressed year after year and failed to consistently generate solid numbers. Right now, he’s the most likely to play elsewhere in 2027 — and maybe even in 2026 if the Packers find a trade partner and a valuable package.
It’s possible that Green Bay decides to look for another long-term piece in the draft, but that would create another set of questions. The Packers already have six wide receivers highly likely to make the 53-man roster, and a draft pick in the mix would force them to trade Wicks (or even Reed depending on the potential offers) or to keep seven WRs on the active roster.
The Packers have an inflection point in 2026. If Golden and Williams take a step forward this season, general manager Brian Gutekunst will be more comfortable letting some players leave in free agency. But if that doesn’t happen, the team will be forced to hand out some contract extensions or to look for help elsewhere at a critical position.
Green Bay Packers News
Packers increasingly signal Matthew Golden role for Year 2 as offseason approach provides key insights
Actions speak louder than words, and Green Bay is showing real confidence in what Golden can become.
