A Closer Look at Green Bay Packers Draft Pick WR Christian Watson

Stats to know about Christian Watson

Watson was a big play waiting to happen in the Bison offense. As already mentioned, he averaged 21.3 yards per catch over his career, including a whopping 26.6 yards per catch in 2020 on 14 receptions.

The 2021 season was Watson’s most productive season; he caught 67% of his 58 targets at 19.0 yards per catch with seven touchdowns. At the FBS level, his 8.2 YAC per catch would have ranked 26th among all receivers, while his 4.28 yards per route run would have been the second-most, according to PFF ($$).

Despite his big-play ability, in the run-heavy North Dakota State offense, Watson was on the field for less than 50% of the team snaps, and over four years, he totaled just 145 targets, with 58 being the most in any season.

Watson was primarily a boundary receiver, but he does have some slot experience, and this past season he was targeted relatively consistently at all three levels of the field.

What the pre-draft scouting reports say about Green Bay Packers WR Christian Watson

Lance Zierlein – NFL.com

"“A receiver prospect with intriguing measurables and a strong belief in the team aspect of the game, Watson possesses an alluring combination of size and speed,” said Zierlein. “He showed off improved route running and catch strength in 2021. He is much more gifted than his opposition was at NDSU and needs to prove he can elevate his game against bigger, faster players at the next level. He plays hard and fast but needs to add a few more pounds and learn to impose his frame on the coverage. He’s a field-stretching option requiring a linear route tree and projects as a capable WR3/4 with more work.”"

Daniel Jeremiah – NFL.com

"“Watson is a long, rangy wideout with excellent fluidity and explosiveness. He lined up outside and was primarily used as a vertical weapon at NDSU,” Jeremiah wrote. “He gains ground in a hurry with his long stride, and he can change speeds when the ball goes up in the air. He ran by everyone he played against last season. Watson showed surprisingly good route skill at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in February. He was able to win with quickness off the line and showed the ability to efficiently drop his weight and burst out of the break point down the field. He has a large catch radius, too. Overall, I thought Watson was a solid vertical/stretch receiver based on his game tape, but the Senior Bowl performance showed a more well-rounded talent. He could emerge as one of the best pass-catchers in this class.”"

Drae Harris – The Draft Network

"“Christian Watson is a very good athlete with good speed, agility, and excellent body control,” said Harris. “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. 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. In the NFL he is an outside receiver who projects with very good ability in the kicking game both as a returner and a core special teamer.”"