Christian Watson proves he's not as raw, more versatile than believed coming out of college

Christian Watson entered the NFL with a reputation as a raw prospect. Less than a season into his NFL career, he has put that notion to bed.

For a bevy of reasons -- some fair and some not -- the absence of first-round wide receivers selected by the Green Bay Packers has grown into an annual narrative. That proved true again this past offseason when the team had to rebuild its receiver corps, essentially from the ground up following Davante Adams' departure.

So when Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft concluded without the Packers adding one of the top wideout prospects, the roars of discontent became inevitable.

And not without good reason. Without Adams providing solutions to nearly every offensive problem and Marquez Valdes-Scantling taking the top off opposing defenses, the Packers had a limited arsenal in the passing game. Moreover, after missing out on the chance to land 24-year-old star receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans, securing one of the few rookie wideouts deemed capable of leading a receiving corps out of the gate seemed crucial.

Instead, the Packers traded an on-paper random to the Minnesota Vikings for an FCS receiver with 105 career receptions in four seasons: North Dakota State's Christian Watson.

While most acknowledged Watson's incredible physical gifts, he entered the NFL with just as many questions. Most famously, Watson struggled with drops during his time in college, with Pro Football Focus marking him down for 15 over the course of his career. That number in a vacuum actually belies frequency, as the lack of passing in North Dakota State's offense meant that Watson's drop percentage came in at 12.6%. 

Beyond the drops, NFL scouts had questions about Watson's ability to beat defenses in ways beyond vertical routes and quick hitters where he can work in open space. Despite his 6-foot-4, 208-pound frame, Watson didn't always use his physical advantages over defenders to the fullest effect. He also didn't have a wide array of releases with which he could create immediate separation when pressed.

With that as the background, Watson's slow start to his rookie year didn't come as a total shock. An offseason knee procedure that cost him most of training camp didn't help matters. Watson dropped his first career target, erasing an almost certain 75-yard touchdown and reinforcing the pre-draft concerns about his hands. Multiple hamstring issues and a concussion followed, costing the rookie even more time on the field. By the time November rolled around, it appeared that Watson would have a de facto redshirt season.

Then came the big bang. Watson broke out with a three-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys, showing off his deep speed as well as the ability to beat defenders in the short and intermediate areas of the field. The rookie followed up the strong performance with three more, adding four more touchdown receptions as well as another as a runner. The explosion of productivity put Watson in rare company, joining Hall of Famer Randy Moss and Pro Bowler Odell Beckham Jr. as the only rookies to catch seven touchdowns over a four-game span since the NFL-AFL merger.