While this MIGHT be optimal for Watson, I'd prefer to focus on what is best for the Green Bay Packers. And arguably that involves keeping Watson in Green and Gold.
Now, if some Super Bowl contending team loses its WR1 (say, to an ACL), and offers a #1 pick or a #2 plus other compensation, maybe Gute should consider a deal. But currently, Watson's speed and size open up the field for Doubs, Wicks, Reed, Musgrave, et al.

Other GMs aren’t morons (except maybe for the Jones boys down in Dallas). They’re going to look at Watson and his numbers & injury history and either pass or offer very little. The upshot is that you may be right, but there’s probably very little to be gained by trading him away.

"You’ve got arguably seven guys that have a legitimate argument to start. "

I'd argue here that they have 5 guys to be a true starter right now.
I don't view Heath or DuBose as starting guys right now.

So if I understand this right. You want to take Watson and trade him for a 3rd round pick?

First off a 3rd round pick for a player that completely changes your offense isn't enough. I really love our WR corp. But no one else offers what Watson offers. He is that home run threat that scares teams. He has the size and speed that teams can't match up well with. That highlight throw at Family night with Alexander covering him should put a ton of fear into other teams. Other teams don't have have a CB as good as Alexander. And if Love is hitting deep throws like that, good luck to other teams.

Watson brings that element that opens up plays for Doubs, Reed, Wicks, Musgrave. He also keeps safety's deep which will open the running game up.
Trading Watson would be like last year and losing Jones for a bunch of games. When he was out the RB position had no explosiveness and was not a threat. The minute he stepped back on the field it transformed our offense.

This year you don't make a move at WR. Perhaps in the offseason, but not now. Keeping the strength of our team together for the year is vital to our success.

The Colts were reportedly interested in trading RB Jonathan Taylor for Watson last year. That was before the emergence of Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, not to mention Bo Melton, so it didn't seem like a good deal to me. Things look different now, but if the Packers wanted to trade Watson, what kind of player would they get for him? Maybe an offensive lineman, but really what they need there is backups, not starters. It's hard to see them getting a player who would be a big difference maker. And trading a former second round draft pick who is just coming into his prime, in exchange for a third round pick, is a loser deal.

All that I can see coming out of this crowded WR room is a cut-down day trade involving Heath or DuBose (Toure would have no value) for a player on another team who's going to get cut. Maybe there's a team with too many good offensive linemen to keep on their roster.

You always get the feeling that Christian Watson is just a hair away from getting injured again.

Two years through his 4-year contract. . . and nothing out of him so far.

Another bust?

Is his third year his break out year?

Can't trade him yet. Have to stick with him for at least one more season. Let's see how he shows against the other Packer receivers. But he is fast and long. You can see sometimes why Gute liked him, was intrigued by him.

Keep healthy for a whole season.

He loves blocking. That's what he was doing in school, and it translated to MLF's version of offense. Just by running down the field, he opens things up like a now illegal cross body block. He's a good kid that just wants to win, making more money than he could ever believe. He's pulling for his buddies just as hard.

Let's keep stacking up problems to figure out.

If Melton, Heath or DuBose are cut after preseason all three will not make it through the waivers. Melton will be picked up for sure. Heath or DuBose would be picked up. It appears the Packers will keep 7 WRs to protect which dude they want the most.

My money is on Melton.

Watson came in raw: an athlete but not a rounded receiver. He has flashed, but he’s been limited by health issues and last year it was disappointing to see that he did not appear to have made a technical jump of the sort many hoped for. This is the year that he has to stay relatively healthy and show that he’s focused on fully harnessing his physical talents. If he does so, then he may become recognized as a premier talent not merely a speed threat.

Recognition by the league as a true number one is earned on the field. So far Watson hasn’t got close to those heights, he’s just flashed. It’s up to him, but the last thing he needs is anointing on potential at this point. He needs to have buckled down and honed his craft not coast on his physical prowess and demand the ball and status through play.

Status comes through doing not untapped potential. Watson hadn’t been buried on the depth chart, he’s had plenty of opportunities that he’s just not been able to convert into clear stardom. It’s up to him, but arguably both Doubs and Reed have done more in his time here already. Only he can change that and he’s not been deprived of the chance to do so by the team and Love can’t be credibly accused of not spreading the ball around to those who get open.

An embarrassment of riches and competition are never bad things, especially if a team culture focused on winning has been established. There's something for everyone in the car if we think we not me. WR1 is a fun creation for talking heads, but that sorts itself out each game. They're all WR1s.

Gotta get through preseason before any of this is relevant. It would be foolish for Gute to start trading players when all it takes is a couple injuries to deplete the depth chart. Unless he somehow were to get a true legitimate swing tackle for 5, 6 or 7 on the depth chart, he needs to hold his cards for 2 - 3 weeks.

In limited duty, Watson has scored 14 TDs his first two seasons, plus we traded up in the 2nd to draft him. And now we're going to dump him for a 3rd rounder before the season even starts?

I rarely, if ever, criticize the writers on this site, but the premise of this article is just dumb.

Having tools for something is not equal to do it. We expected Watson to be true WR1, he showed glimpses of it but he hasn't been WR1 yet. Even when we forget about injuries, only TD production looks like top receiver's. Even in such competitive room he should have even single games when he dominted. Do not solve the non-existing problem. Let Watson prove he is WR1 and then we will start thinking about WR hierarchy or trading him. So far he is a good member of a group.

Trade Watson for a #3 when just a few years ago most (including Cory) were bemoaning the lack of talent in the WR room.

Always "interesting" articles Cory...and it seems you enjoy being impetuous and controversial.

But I do not understand this: "Strength in numbers is a good problem to have — until it starts to become a problem."

I don't see strength in numbers as a problem....you know, because it increases "strength". Nonetheless your solution to the perceived problem is to reduce the numbers that made you stronger...so get weaker! For a 3rd rounder!

What are the odds MLF and Gutey trade all the creativity and synergy Watson brings to the Illusion of Complexity Offense?

Yep, me too.

if he leaves at the end of his contract as a free agent, we'd likely get a 3rd for him anyway. he's on a rookie pay scale as a 2nd round pick, unless someone blows the Packers away with an offer why would they trade him?

I tend to not to agree. The season is long. Not everybody will play all 17 games. You need depth as we saw that last year. In 2026, either Watson or Doubs will be gone. Depth will replace the one not kept. And like Adams, it may take years to figure out who is the true number 1 receiver. I am thinking the Dubose may beat out Heath because of upside and that won't hurt the team because of depth. But we will lose Heath if he is cut.

Here is what I am thinking. In between the 20's, use all of the WR's. And that continues into red zone. But when you need a TD or first down, I look toward Doubs and Wicks as the guys to get open. This is important at critical times in big games or late in games. And you need to call the right plays and put the guys in the proper lineup.

In the SF game, I saw this as a failure of Lafluer, We have two years of six good receivers. Next level of better performance in big games. IMHO

The Packers are in an enviable position as they don't really need Watson. Yes, he can threaten teams with his presence but I say, keep him, let him try out his new hamstrings, give him room to improve, much like GB did with Love. He is under no pressure to be 'the man'. If he continues to be injury-prone after another year-make a decision then. As others have mentioned GB currently has an embarrassment of riches in the WR room which allows for breathing room and space for a passion project.

Interesting, but I doubt it would happen. If his injury issues are behind him and consistently produces beyond the occasional electrifying plays then it would have been foolish to part ways with him. But you don't know whether or not this will be the case. He has two years left on his rookie contract, so now would be the time to do it if you want a decent return. If you wait another year and he either can't stay healthy again or doesn't makes strides in development, then you might as well let his contract play out because you won't get much in return.

Watson at his best is a game-changer in space, and at a minimum he draws attention away from other receivers. That's primarily what his role should be instead of a possession type subject to hard hits and tackles. But that's easier said than done in game-time situations.

That's a really bad idea, IMO.

When he is on the field,he's more likely to score a TD than Reed, Wicks, Doubs, Melton, etc. He's had 80 touches in his career, and 14 of those touches have ended up in the endzone. That's better than one out of six touches.

If we want to play with 3 WRs on the field, we really need four guys to divide up the work load, and a 5th guy in case somebody has "minor" injury, and a 6th guy in case one of the other 5 is going to miss several games.

This team is built to throw the ball downfield. Love can throw it and these guys, especially Watson, can catch it. If we can protect , we're going to get some big chunks through the air.

The value of a deep threat is clear. I think the focus on Watson as the only candidate is a false premise, though. Reed and Wicks have already shown the ability to go deep, and I wouldn't be surprised if Melton, who has very good speed himself and has the build for a durable blocker as well, makes "a run for it" as the deep threat. Musgrave could grow into a deep threat as well. Doesn't hurt to have more than one!

The team is still feeling its way into an ideal lineup, with DuBose making noise as we hoped last year. It's hard to see Toure making the squad ahead of him, but we're likely to be quite happy with the ones we do keep. All i all it's a good problem, if it's a problem at all.

Cory, when did you become a Watson man? I thought that for everyone on Cheeseheadtv.com, it is all about what is good for the Packers! When did this change?

I read this headline and subheader and just shook my head.

After watching the Packers since 1961 I can say I've rarely seen a guy simply stop being chronically injured. It has happened where a person becomes injury prone and returns for more years, but it's rare.
Watson is a rare talent but being fragile in the NFL is not a good thing. With San Francisco ready to unload Brandon Aiyuk, it shows there's a market for receivers that the Packers could follow up on.

My feelings for Watson were well known last year. It's better to get something for him now before he suffers his next injury and his value drops to near zero.

Never forget the Packers all-time leading receiver is Donald Driver and look where he was drafted.

This article is also quite disrespectful to the site, and to Christian's dad who is a content provider herein. What on earth are you thinking Cory?

Why don't we let him become a number one first for a full season? And besides, with his talent we would be crazy to consider it anyway. We should be all in on our find, and have nothing to lose but everything to gain If he proves to be as I hope. A legendary Packard wide receiver.