Packers' rookie has a shot at making history in 2022
GREEN BAY – The Packers have some work to do when it comes to figuring out their receiving room, but it's clear that Christian Watson is going to get every opportunity to come in and hit the ground running. The Packers obviously think highly of him or else they wouldn't have traded up to select […]
GREEN BAY – The Packers have some work to do when it comes to figuring out their receiving room, but it's clear that Christian Watson is going to get every opportunity to come in and hit the ground running.
The Packers obviously think highly of him or else they wouldn't have traded up to select the former North Dakota State product with the 34th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Watson's skill set should lead to some big-time plays in 2022.
If everything clicks like it's supposed to, then Watson could make Packers history this year. Per Pro Football Reference, the Packers have never had a rookie receiver -being wideout or tight end- to record over 1,000 receiving yards in their rookie season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Billy Howton is the only Packers' rookie to record 1,000 receiving yards in their first season and that was all the way back in 1952.
Watson has a shot to hit that mark. He should be a top-2 target in the Packers offense, especially considering the early unknowns with Robert Tonyan's ACL. And when looking back at Packers history, there are plenty of rookie receivers that received opportunities in Year 1. There are also 241 targets to replace after the collective departures of Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Equanimeous St. Brown.
Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Adams, Valdes-Scantling, and Javon Walker all had 104, 80, 73, 66, 54, and 50 targets, respectively, during their rookie years. That's an average of 71 targets and those six guys averaged a combined catch rate of 53%, which would put Watson's reception total close to 38 receptions on the year, just based off these numbers.
Watson's deep speed will allow him to eat up yards for big plays, which will help boost his numbers. It's not unfathomable to think he'll average of 17-yards per reception in 2022. If that does happen, he's set for 646 receiving yards based solely off the aforementioned numbers.
But if Watson develops his game over the offseason to the point where he becomes more of a complete receiver -which obviously bodes well for he and Aaron Rodgers' chemistry- then the sky is the limit for the kid in 2022 and beyond.
It won't be easy by any means and there are a lot of things that need to go right for Watson in 2022. But, he has the skill set to succeed in the NFL and he has all the opportunity in the world to carve out a big role with one of the league's best quarterbacks to ever play the game.
I don't know about you, but that sounds like a great recipe for immediate success.
Featured image via Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
