Green Bay Packers Select 2 High Upside Athletes in R1 of PFF Mock Draft
By Paul Bretl
A recent two-round mock draft from Anthony Treash of PFF has the Green Bay Packers selecting a pair of players in the first round that just feel like Packers selections.
After a run of receivers early on, Treash would have the Packers select North Dakota State’s Chrisitan Watson with the 22nd pick. Other notable receivers still on the board included Jahan Dotson, Skyy Moore, and Treylon Burks.
While many mock drafts don’t have Watson in the first round, or if you use any of the mock draft simulators out there, you oftentimes can select him with one of Green Bay’s second-round picks, I believe that if the Packers do want Watson, they’ll have to take him in Round 1, or at least plan on moving up in Round 2.
In 2021, Watson caught 67% of his 58 targets at 19.0 yards per catch with seven touchdowns. He put on a show at the NFL combine, measuring in at 6’4″ – 208 pounds while posting 10.0 on the RAS scale–which was one of the best showings of all-time by a receiver.
Everything about Christian Watson screams Green Bay Packers player.
He has the size that we know they covet at the position–not to mention that he is uber-athletic. Watson can provide the Packers with that much-needed vertical threat while also having the versatility to be moved around the formation — even taking some snaps out of the backfield — while impacting other parts of the field as well. He has experience as a return man, along with being a willing blocker.
"“He can defeat press with foot quickness and has surprisingly good vertical speed,” wrote Drae Harris of The Draft Network. “His home-run speed threatens a defender’s cushion quickly. He does a good job of dropping his weight while displaying the separation quickness at the top of the route. He has a very good catch radius and is a matchup problem in contested-catch situations. He can contort his body to make tough catches and is dynamic with the football in his hands."