The Green Bay Packers locked up wide receiver Christian Watson for the next four years by signing him to a massive $110.5 million contract extension last week. That move, in concert with Romeo Doubs’ departure via free agency, implies that Watson will be one of Jordan Love’s main targets for the rest of this decade.
The 27-year-old pass catcher, while having a history of injuries throughout his career in Titletown, has caught 133 passes and 20 touchdowns for the Packers since 2022. With Jayden Reed cemented as a fixture in the lineup and Matthew Golden no longer a rookie, Green Bay’s receiving corps is looking for a solid 2026 performance.
While the offense appears bolstered, what does that mean for the rest of the roster in respect to the salary cap? Watson’s windfall will likely spell the end of a current player, quite possibly a starter or solid contributor, due to economic reasons. Here are two possible candidates for being a roster casualty due to Watson’s big haul and expiring contracts looming.
One of the first dominoes to fall as a result of the new Watson deal may be defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. 2026 will mark the final and fifth year of Wyatt’s rookie contract, one that he signed in 2022. This could be a make-or-break year for him, but it will start under unlucky circumstances.
Wyatt is coming off a season-ending injury in which he suffered a broken leg and torn ankle ligaments on Thanksgiving Day last year. According to reports, his rehab is going well, and he is on schedule to be a full participant at training camp in July.
Ironically, Wyatt may become expendable no matter how well he performs in 2026.
Wyatt is set to make just under $13 million this season. That is not unreasonable for a dependable run-stopper, but strong production and Watson’s new money may put him outside of Green Bay’s budget when negotiating his next contract. If his injuries linger and he struggles in 2026, the Packers can look elsewhere for sufficient interior defensive line help.
While serviceable (four sacks in 2025) in his role with the Packers’ defense before that, Wyatt’s league-wide rankings are trending in the wrong direction. Pro Football Focus ranks Wyatt with a 52.9 overall defensive grade in the 2025 season, 88th among 134 qualified interior defensive linemen. His PFF pass-rush grade of 71.4 ranked 29th among 134 qualified interior defensive linemen. His run-defense grade of 38.7 ranked 118th at the position.
There will be no lack of motivation for Wyatt to return to full capacity. In January, he spoke about how his November setback is the incentive needed to get him back in the lineup.
“Me personally, I know I got a lot more in the tank,” he said. “I feel like I got a lot more in the tank than what I put out there this year or the past three years. I know I have a lot more and I feel like this injury right here really is going to help me get above this hump, just showing y’all what I have.”
Green Bay is in an enviable situation in regards to Wyatt. If the defender plays well, the Packers obviously benefit. If Wyatt is slow to return to form after his ailments, the team can move off him without much drama.
With the commitment the Packers made to Watson, they will have to think long and hard about Wyatt’s future in a green and gold uniform.
If it were up to the Packers’ fans, discussion about cornerback Keisean Nixon’s roster status would have been commenced long ago. Most Packer Backers wanted Nixon out before the team’s plane landed in Green Bay after their loss to the Chicago Bears in the 2025 playoffs.
Originally brought in to return kicks, Nixon thrived on special teams, earning All-Pro honors in 2022 and 2023. Since promoted to the team’s CB1 position, however, his production has been inconsistent at best. Most fans and followers of the team will remember Nixon getting shredded by the Bears in December for the winning touchdown in overtime at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Along with his propensity for giving up big plays at the wrong times, Nixon’s stat lines in 2025 were not pretty. He allowed 56 receptions on 87 targets (64.4 percent) for 651 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He also gave up 160 yards after the catch.
Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 105.2 when targeting him. His 13 pass breakups were the second most at the position, but he gave up 11.6 yards per reception, 7.5 yards per target. Nixon has never had more than one interception in a single season.
Nixon’s contract runs out after the 2026 season, and based on his recent dip in productivity, it would have been far-fetched for Green Bay to pursue the free-agent-to-be. With Watson’s recent haul now in the fold, they will undoubtedly let Nixon’s deal lapse without an effort to extend.
Watson’s landmark pact will keep him as one of Love’s targets for the next four years. The receiver’s size, strength, and potential are undeniable, and Watson is only going to improve with more experience.
The unintended consequences of Watson’s money grab, however, are far-reaching and long-lasting. Salary cap restrictions force the Packers’ bean counters not only serve as economic advisors, but they must be able to foresee the future regarding those on the roster.
Because they are in the final year of their contracts, Wyatt and Nixon will become expendable, one way or another, in 2027. The Packers hope they can still be of use while still sporting the “G” on their helmets in 2026.
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