With their second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers began the rebuild of their wide receiver group. With the No. 34 overall pick, Green Bay selected North Dakota State star receiver, Christian Watson.
Christian Watson was considered a very raw prospect coming out of North Dakota State but had the size and athleticism to develop into a very good player. But, things got off to a slow start as he missed a large chunk of the offseason program because of a knee procedure.
During the regular season, things couldn’t have started any worse. On the first play of the season, Aaron Rodgers targeted him with a deep pass that would have almost assuredly gone for a touchdown. He dropped it, which set a bad tone for the start of his rookie year.
Things only got worse when he suffered a hamstring injury, which cost him three out of the first seven games in his career. Past the midway point of the season, Christian Watson was falling short of even the most conservative of projections.
Once Week 10 rolled around, something clicked. He had a breakout game against the Dallas Cowboys, catching four passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns. That was the start of a great stretch to finish out his rookie season with a bang.
In the final eight games of the season, the former Bison showed off his explosiveness and big play ability. He caught 31 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns, developing into a go-to target for Aaron Rodgers.
“I feel like it was just the perfect way to finish the season,” Watson said. “There’s going to be highs and there’s going to be lows. You’ve just got to ride the momentum and keep it going and I feel those are things I did.”
Christian Watson is in line for an even bigger role in 2023 as the potential No. 1 option in the Packers’ passing offense. With Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb heading to the New York Jets to stay with Aaron Rodgers, there are a lot of targets up for grabs heading into 2023.
While Jordan Love has reportedly been building a strong rapport with Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson will definitely have a big role. It is something he will be prepared for after experiencing highs and lows during his rookie season.
“For me, I like to be thrown in the fire,” Watson said. “I think I was last year, and I think that only made me better. I’m looking forward to going out there and showing who I am.”
Christian Watson has some big shoes to fill as a de facto replacement for Davante Adams in 2022, but if he can pick up right where he left off last season, the Packers’ passing attack will be one that can make some noise this upcoming season.