By most predictions and projections, the Green Bay Packers aren’t going to be contenders during the 2023 season. This season marks the dawn of a new era in Green Bay as Jordan Love will be taking over as the starting quarterback with Aaron Rodgers being traded to the New York Jets.
While there will certainly be some bumps in the road with how inexperienced this offensive group is for the Packers, it certainly doesn’t mean they are lacking talent. There are a lot of intriguing, high-upside players that the organization is hoping to develop as long-term keepers.
One of those players is wide receiver Christian Watson. Watson is who Matt Holder of Bleacher Report selected as the Packers’ most exciting young building block ahead of the 2023 season. It would be hard to argue against that selection.
A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State, Watson possesses a unique blend of size, standing 6’5” and weighing 200 pounds, and athleticism, running a 4.36 40-yard dash. His best asset as a rookie was his downfield speed, blowing past defenders with ease.
His career got off to a very slow start as he battled injuries and drops. His first target of the season would have gone for a 75-yard touchdown had he been able to haul it in as he got behind the Minnesota Vikings’ defense.
Once he got his legs under him, Watson showcased just how explosive and dominant he could be. From Week 10 through the end of the season, he was one of the most productive wide receivers in the NFL. Over that span, he caught 31 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns; he added four carries for 61 yards and another score as well.
This offseason he has already been showcasing a more developed skill set as well. His speed, which is his best asset, is nullified a bit during red zone chances because the field is shrunk. However, he has worked on his route running and uses his agility to his advantage, as he is developing into quite a weapon near the end zone.
There is nothing keeping Watson from becoming the No. 1 option for Love in the passing game. If he can focus and cut down on his drops, earning the trust of Love, the sky’s the limit for the 2022 second-round pick.
In addition to Watson, Holder named a few different players to keep an eye on that he considered the most exciting young building block. Love made the list along with second-year defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, rookie pass rusher Lukas Van Ness and rookie wide receiver, Jayden Reed.
