The Packers face a deadline to secure receiver Christian Watson with a long‑term contract before free‑agent Alec Pierce signs, according to analysts. Watson’s one‑year extension leaves him eligible for a new deal, and the team wants to lock him in before the 2027 salary‑cap jump.
Pierce, ranked the sixth‑best free agent in 2026, could spark a bidding war if he remains with the Colts or signs elsewhere. The Packers risk losing Watson to a higher offer or a market reset, so securing him now would protect the franchise’s offensive core.