We are just a week away from the Packers beginning training camp. Once that happens, the main focus of fans and those that cover the team will be on what happens on that practice field. For now though, we have a chance to look at the money the Packers have paid out to players from last season, and whether those deals were worth it.
The Packers handed out three notable extensions over the last two months, with one more likely coming. These deals can be clearly sorted into three levels, so lets get into them.
Is Christian Watson Ready to Be The Guy?
The biggest extension the Packers handed out this season is easily the “riskiest” of the bunch. Watson has never played a full 17 game season, and his highest yardage total is 620. Not a guy that you would necessarily think had earned a 110.5 million dollar contract.
But when you look at what he did on the field last year you can see why Green Bay felt comfortable making this move.
5th In TD Catches
5th In Passer Rating When Targeted
5th In Drop Rate
3rd In YDS Per Catch
Watson was playing at a top 10 WR level in an offense that doesn’t throw as much as other leading offenses. With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks gone, the Packers WR room is far more streamlined, which could lead to Watson getting even more opportunities.
The on off stats for the Packers offense with and without Watson are also telling and another reason Green Bay felt this move was necessary.
While there is certainly risk involved with this type of money, Packers fans should be pleased with this decision and the Packers made a smart move locking down a young player on the verge of putting it all together.
Can Devonte Wyatt Help Keep The Packers Defense Afloat?
If you need help, you can find Wyatt in the upper right corner, keeping company with some of the best interior defensive lineman in the league.
There are real injury concerns with Wyatt and his age is also a factor compared to players drafted the same time as him. That being said, if he can stay healthy and pick up where he left off last year, the Packers front seven could surprise people even without Micah at the start of the season.
We don’t know the full contract details yet, but this likely amounts to a one year prove it deal that the Packers can get out of if Wyatt fails to stay healthy or plays poorly. If that is the case then the Packers are completely justified handing out this deal.
What Does Isaiah McDuffie’s Extension Mean?
The smallest of the three extensions, and the least impactful on the overall team.
McDuffie’s primary value stems from two things – his special teams play, and his availability. Both are great things, but its worth considering if those are things that could be found with a late round draft pick or even a undrafted free agent signing.
What it also does is make it seem as though Green Bay does not have a ton of faith in former third round pick Ty’Ron Hopper. While the GM Brian Gutekunst has seemed to have shaken the “third round curse” that seemed to afflict many of the Packers mid 2010’s drafts, Hopper appears to be a throwback to that era. This extension combined with the Zaire Franklin trade leads me to believe Hopper will not be in Green Bay much longer.
The numbers are low enough that it’s probably fine, but out of the three contracts we’ve discussed this is the one I’m most down on.
Who’s Next?
Tucker Kraft. We know it, the team knows it, everyone knows it. I have a hard time imagining Kraft steps on the field next week without a new deal, and I expect it to be one that places Kraft near the top of the market.
While that may again seem surprising given his raw stats, the advanced metrics tell us that Kraft is an absolute game changer at the position and is likely worth every penny he’ll sign for in the next week or so.
