The Green Bay Packers were shamed by the rest of the NFL for not snagging a wide receiver in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. However, they made up for it early on in the second round by trading up to select North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson. At least, Aaron Rodgers has a new weapon to work with.
Watson is going to have a chance to make a massive impact in his rookie season with the Packers. Many believe that he could end up being a go-to target by the end of the upcoming season if Green Bay doesn’t add another veteran receiver.
With that being said, Watson wasted no time revealing what he’s planning to tell Rodgers. He spoke about it shortly after being drafted by the Packers.
“I’m ready to work, I’m ready to learn, and I’m ready to get after it. I know he’s gonna be tough on me, and that’s exactly what I want.”
During the 2021 season with North Dakota State, Watson ended up catching 43 passes for 800 yards and seven touchdowns. On ESPN’s draft coverage, he was compared to former Packers’ wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who left town in free agency to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Standing in at 6-foot-5 and 208 pounds, Watson will bring great size and great speed. Those are exactly the areas that the Packers wanted to find in the second round of the draft. Not only is he tall and fast, he is a much better route runner than Valdes-Scantling was coming into the league.
It will be interesting to see how much of an immediate impact Christian Watson can make with the Packers. Aaron Rodgers certainly needs someone to step up if the current group is what he has. Allen Lazard is a good piece, Randall Cobb is solid but not great, Amari Rodgers is very unproven, and Sammy Watkins’ health has been an issue. Watson will be a massive part of Rodgers and Matt LaFleur’s game plan.
Expect to see the rookie come into Green Bay and make that immediate impact. He may not be a star right off the bat, but this is a pick that should pay off big-time in the very near future.
