Christian Watson took over Green Bay by storm during his rookie season with the Packers. After being drafted in the second-round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Watson came out of the gates struggling. He turned things on later in the season and has given the franchise a real hope for a true superstar wide receiver in the coming years.
With all of the drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers potentially being traded, it’s always nice to see some bright spots to keep our minds off of the rumor mill. Jordan Love appears likely to be the new starter in 2023 and Watson has been very vocal about his support for the young quarterback.
During his rookie season, Watson put together some masterful performances. He also put up some big-time numbers for a rookie wide receiver.
One Crazy Statistic For Packers’ Christian Watson
JJ Zachariason of Late Round Fantasy took to Twitter to share one crazy statistic for Watson. Since 2011, Watson ended up at No. 7 among rookie wide receivers in yards per route. The only six players ahead of him were Tyreek Hill, Chris Olave, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown, and Odell Beckham Jr.
Top-7 rookie wide receiver yards per route run leaders (minimum 50 targets) since 2011:
1. Odell Beckham
2. AJ Brown
3. Justin Jefferson
4. Ja'Marr Chase
5. Chris Olave
6. Tyreek Hill
7. Christian Watson— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) January 30, 2023
Watson became an electrifying playmaker for the Packers’ offense as a rookie. Whether it be getting the ball in his hands and letting him do work after the catch or simply throwing the ball deep to him, he can make plays at any given moment.
Throughout the course of the 2022 season, Watson ended up catching 41 passes for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. He also picked up 80 yards and scored two touchdowns in seven carries on the ground.
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Very few young players are able to come into the NFL and make that kind of impact right off the bat. There is no question that Watson has a special talent. After all of the early-season complaining, the Packers’ fan base has now realized that Brian Gutekunst and company may have gotten a steal at No. 34 overall last year.
Standing in at 6-foot-5 and a shade under 210 pounds, Watson possesses extreme athleticism and speed. He is going to be a nightmare for opposing defenders to cover.
Expect to see Watson attack the upcoming offseason hard and come back as a very improved player. If Love does end up taking over at quarterback, he will have a very good and potential superstar wide receiver as his No. 1 target. Add in Watson’s fellow rookie Romeo Doubs, and the Packers have the makings of an elite offense in the very near future.
