MooPack....

Basically, Reed signed for #2 receiver money, which makes sense.

Not sure how they are viewing Watson, but if they sign him (which they should), i'd imagine it will be for around wr #2 money also.

If Golden flourishes, and turns into receiver #1 like Guter is praying he will.
By the time he has to pay him, a decision will then be made on Watson and Reed.
I would think in 2 years, one of them will be gone, under my scenario.

Maybe the Packers still want to sign Watson, but aren't sure if they can afford him.
Maybe they wanted to make sure they at least kept Reed.
I hope they keep both, but there is a limit to how much I'd pay Watson. He's worth more than Reed, but not much more than $20 million per year, IMHO.
***
The Packers are good at finding WRs. I don't want too much turnover at any position, but at the same time I wouldn't sign Watson at or near highest-paid at his position.
I'm glad to make guys rich, but not necessarily richest at their position. I want guys who will take a little less for the good of the team. That's a good indication of character.
Unless you're a top QB, or of the elite caliber of Parsons, I don't think the Packers should pay at the highest level. Generous, but not that generous.
I'm a little wary after the situation with Jaire in the sense of tying up too much salary cap in too few players.

Golden and Reed are not the same player whatsoever. Reed is a swiss army knife who has really solid running ability. Golden is a perimeter receiver. They both have their skillsets and they will be huge pieces of this offense moving forward.

The Packers cannot extend Watson until fall of '26 due to some NFL contract rule, its been well publicized, I think its One Year after his last extension. I don't know how they'd not want to keep him, as I think he developed more, and took a bigger step up over last season than he had in all his time before that.
I would hope that when it comes to money Watson remembers all the time GB waited and stood by him when injured but it seems like his Dad has a lot of influence (and an opinion) over him, that may not be a good thing for GB.
If they don't (or can't) extend him early and he picks up where he left off in '25 and improves on that in '26, they won't be able to afford him.

How are Golden and Reed "essentially the same"?

I honestly don't understand this- am I misunderstanding who you're comparing Golden to?

it's on draft day because they had the day off yesterday and could put the deal together...

I think a lot of people have forgotten what Reed looks like with the ball in his hands in space.. he's capable of taking over a game.

Cap hell is a myth—every team seemingly manages their cap. The 9’rs spend like Imelda Marcos and never fear any alleged cap consequences.

I'm starting to think you're not good at this.

Doesn't it seem odd to you
that the guy was on the block.
With Wicks?
And now he's a packer for 3 years?

Me too GregC.

Like you, Greg, I too was a little sick of the churn, but after drafting Golden, it was necessary to sort things out to know where to go moving forward, and Reed's early injury last year even stalled that a bit.
As much as I would hope they can extend Watson too, we can't forget that Tucker Kraft is entering his 4th year with no 5th year option available to GB.
Kraft could be the guy that resets the TE market price in the NFL like has now happened with WR's. Get Him Signed now, before someone else resets that market!

Me too ‘61.

I don't know for fact, obviously.

But i don't see Watson going anywhere...yet
All indications are the Packers love him, and vice versa.
Pay Reed and Watson #2 money, and Goldens on a rookie deal.
It just works, for awhile.

Now if Golden becomes solid #1, then in a couple years we'll be revisiting the subject.

If they all can't stay relatively healthy, maybe that's a conversation, we probably don't want to have, down the line.