GREEN BAY, Wis. — As is often the case with reports of contract extensions, the initial numbers on Christian Watson’s new deal were not the real numbers.Initial reports had the Green Bay Packers wide receiver making $110.5 million over a four-year deal, and though that’s possible if he meets all incentives, the true deal is for four years and $92 million, according to Over the Cap. Instead of an average annual value of $27.625 million, Watson’s true average annual salary is $23 million. Instead of 15th among wide receivers, he ranks tied for 19th in that department.His total guaranteed money of $31 million ranks 30th among wideouts, per OTC.Perhaps hearing all those numbers will calm the outrage of anyone thinking the Packers overpaid for a 2022 second-round receiver yet to top 41 receptions, 620 yards and seven touchdown catches in a season while averaging 12 games played per year. You could even argue that Watson deserved the numbers initially reported. After all, extensions are just as much, if not more, about future projections and open market value than past production.Did Jordan Love deserve to be tied for the highest-paid quarterback in league history in terms of average annual salary ($55 million) after just one season starting? If you go by production, probably not. But it was time for a new deal, and paying someone his market value based on future projections is how business works in the NFL. Will Tucker Kraft deserve to be the highest-paid tight end in the league if he becomes that in the near future? Not based on half a season during which he was one of the league’s best at the position, but that’s not how this works.Watson’s production might not match either his reported or real contract numbers, but what he’s done when healthy — and what that means if he stays healthy in 2026 and beyond — carries more weight.Watson returned from ACL rehab in Week 8 last season on a ramp-up routine. From Week 8 until Week 18, he ranked 14th among wide receivers in receiving yards (611), tied for fifth in touchdown catches (six) and second in yards per catch (17.5). He dropped only one pass on 55 targets, according to TruMedia. He also didn’t play in Week 18 since the Packers rested starters in Minnesota with the No. 7 seed already secured.