Green Bay Packers Trade Up in 3 Round NFL.com Mock Draft
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers Pick 91: Christian Watson, WR, NDSU
The state of this Green Bay Packers wide receiver room can change quite a bit depending on what happens with Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but right now, it is very thin with Amari Rodgers, Randall Cobb, Rico Gafford, Juwann Winfree, and Chris Blair as the only other players under contract.
Even if two of those three Packer free agents return, wide receiver is certainly a position that the Packers should look to address early on. And if only one of Adams, Lazard, or MVS is back, then it becomes a massive need–like, you need to spend a first-round pick on the position, type of need.
Christian Watson was targeted 145 times during his college career with NDSU, and he caught 58 percent of those passes at 21.3 yards per catch–every time he touched the ball, there was a big play possibility. He also finished with 13 touchdowns.
In 2021 specifically, Watson caught 67 percent of his 58 pass attempts at 19.0 yards per catch, along with seven touchdowns. While he primarily lined up as a boundary receiver, he does have experience in the slot as well, where he was a mismatch with his big 6’5″ – 208 pound frame.
There are so many aspects of Watson’s game that screams “Green Bay Packer,” including his big-play ability, his size and athleticism, his ability as a run-blocker, and he can create space with his route running abilities, among other qualities that he possesses.
"“Christian Watson is a very good athlete with good speed, agility, and excellent body control,” said Drae Harris of The Draft Network. “For a taller receiver, he is surprisingly dynamic and displays the ability to consistently win against man coverage. In the passing game, he is extremely tough to cover. He can defeat press with foot quickness and has surprisingly good vertical speed. His home-run speed threatens a defender’s cushion quickly."