When the Jacksonville Jaguars selected wide receiver Parker Washington 185th overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, reactions were mixed. Some saw his yards-after-catch ability and potential explosiveness and called him a “draft steal,” especially for a sixth-round pick. Others saw a slower, shorter wide receiver who might struggle to find playing time, especially with players like Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones ahead of him. No matter what you thought of him before the draft, I don’t think anything could have prepared you for the player that Parker Washington has become. Washington is Trevor Lawrence’s most reliable target, leading the team in targets (35), receptions (22), and yards per touch (15.4). Before the season started, after his sensational 2025 season, Washington was in talks with general manager James Gladstone about an extension. The reported numbers hovered around $25 million a year, akin to Michael Wilson’s number to stay in Arizona. However, Washington has chosen to bet on himself heading into the season, and it may pay off. Among players with 30+ targets, Washington ranks fifth in yards per target, behind only Drake London ($35.26 million AAV), Zay Flowers ($35 million AAV), Christian Watson ($23 million AAV), and Jaxson Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million AAV). So, that raises the question: What could a potential Parker Washington extension look like if it happened today?
What is Parker Washington’s Market?
[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Let’s make one thing clear: Washington won’t get top-of-the-market money. He won’t be clearing the Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Ja’Marr Chase contracts with his extension. Even as the number-one passing target for one of the league’s better offenses, Washington has only briefly shown he can hit this new level of production. That said, I think he’s eclipsed the $25 million figure NFL Media’s Cameron Wolfe rumored was offered to him before the season started. He’s shown he’s a better long-term add than Michael Wilson because of his play and because he’s only 24 years old. Washington will probably get closer to the numbers Zay Flowers and A.J. Brown signed for.
Projected Parker Washington Extension
