The Green Bay Packers didn’t draft a wide receiver in the first round, but they did snatch up one of the most athletic pass-catchers the 2022 class had to offer. Brian Gutekunst parted ways with two draft picks to trade up and select Christian Watson with the 34th overall pick, making him the team’s highest draft pick at wide receiver since Javon Walker in the 2002 NFL draft. They hope that Watson will become the next great Packers receiver to come out of the second round.
At this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, Watson became the only wideout to measure in at 6-4 and run a sub-4.4 40-yard dash over the last decade. According to Kent Lee Platte, he earned a relative athletic score of 9.96, putting him in the top 15 among receivers since 1987. Green Bay is known to have a type for tall and fast wide receivers.
However, Watson is more than just a great tester and physical specimen. His talent was on full display over a terrific five-year career at North Dakota State, producing more than 3,200 career all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns as a receiver, rusher, and returner. Watson’s ability to contribute in so many ways attracted him to the Packers and could maximize his impact as a rookie.
