I’ll be the first to admit it: I was a Christian Watson skeptic. To me, he had the feel of Darrius Heyward-Bey 2.0 - blistering speed with poor skills that make a complete player.

I’ve never been happier to be (probably…) wrong.

We'll have to check back after three seasons to make a more accurate comparison and judgment. Durability is still a concern; if we can keep him on the field, it looks to be a great pick.

The Packers obviously didn't have the opportunity to draft either Wilson or Olave, but they both have impressive catch totals and yardage; and both have caught over 40 first downs (Lazard is our leader with 36), which I think is also a pretty important stat. So right now I'm not ready to declare any of these rookie receivers head and shoulders above the rest.

Now it won't be the first time I would be proven wrong but, I don't get the "Packers traded 2 second round picks (#53 & #59) to draft C-Watson".

In my thoughts, the Pack only traded one 2nd Rd pick for the right to move up in the 2nd round to pick #34.

Okay, back to the drawing board and the PACKER SWEEP baby!

I was never a skeptic. I wanted him taken before Walker. I was fine with Walker. But Wyatt shocked me. I said Jones would be on the All Rookie team. Before Wyatt. And that Watson was now a Steal. Before Both. Was he worth two picks. Well, it did put all 3 in the top 50.
And Jones was strictly a NT. But I saw him as Clarks equal. Which would let Clark move like Raji.
Truthfully I still liked they got Watson. And taking Wyatt screwed up the draft. But at 53 and 59. Think what Pierce and Jones would have looked like.
Gutey made up for pierce by getting Dobbs. And Rhyan looked solid. But I would have gambled on the ILb from Wi Leo Chanel.
This was Gutey's best draft. But it could have been better.

Ken, I disagree with you on the outcome Monday night and I expect the Packers to win the game.

To be fair, most of those rookie WRs are playing with dreadful quarterbacks. Watson's going to have to be a lot better than Pickens and Pierce to justify the very high price paid.

Thanks for the article Ken. I always find your work to be objective and honest.

I will disagree on the outcome. The Rams have as many problems as our Pack. Given the weather this is going to be a “who wants it more game”. The Packers are home. Jones and Dillon grind it out. Watson makes a difference on a couple of end around runs. Packers 24-21.

What is it, eight TDs in the past four games?

Jalen Ramsey might be over-rated, or at leat hitting a rough patch, but I've got to believe the Rams see Watson as the #1 threat and will be looking to smother him this week. It'll be interestinng to watch the young receiver work now that he's not a secret anymore.

The ultimate question is are the Pack better with Watson and Doubs then they would be with Pickens and Pierce? Only time answers those questions, but at end of the day the argument can be made either way.

Yep, happy we have #9. I hope he can maintain his upward trajectory (not forever, but for a while provided he has good health, work habits and attitude).

What if he was drafted by Buffalo? About as fitting as Luck playing for the Colts and their horseshoe emblem.

Christian Watson is only going to get better.....If ML can scheme enough places for him to exploit on the field. He is a Weapon, much like A. Jones. We just need different ways to unleash him. After the Cowboys game...There was no secret. I have liked this kid pre-draft and he is doing exactly what I knew he would be doing...I just thought it would be much sooner, but injuries and such changed the timeline. Let's hope he is healthy for the rest of the season and finishes strong as well as Doubs and Toure. Watson and Williams are the most athletic WR's in the draft. Watson is similar to Megatron of old in RAS score. Packers win 27-20....GPG

I believe that Watson can be our version of Deeboo Samuel - but I have a couple of concerns - he takes too many head shots. Given Lafleur's recent lack of innovative play calling and our bad red zone results - Will he use Watson to the maximum without getting him hurt. I fully believe next year that we have all that we need with Doubs Toure and Watson and all we need is Lazard back as a safety blanket and for cripes sake get us a new style tight end . I wouldnt mind Tonyon on a prove it 1 year ( if he wants more good luck RT) - but the game runs around guys like Kelse Kittle Shultz ( last year)

Ken I share your enthusiasm regarding Watson and I'll not discuss did Packers need to trade their picks for higher one, because we do not know what was the dynamic of the draft, and what info Brian Gutekunst had about interests for Watson from other franchises. This is in the deep dark for us.

But, even if Watson will be rookie of the year, I'll tend to keep my evaluation on him until his 3rd season in NFL. Some guys flourish early than drop and some are late blossoming types. Of course there are guys they are excellent from start and keeps that level constantly. I believe we will know soon enough which type is Watson.

I hope he is the one who keeps his excellence constantly.

Here is the the truth. Christian Watson missed nearly all of training camp and all 3 preseason games because of "knee surgery" not an ankle injury.

Besides Drake London who hurt his knee in his first preseason game and got shutdown for the preseason and Jameson Williams who didn't play a snap till 2 or 3 weeks ago, none of the drafted WRs had to deal with the kind of adversity Watson had to start their career. Still on the very first play, in his very first game in the NFL Watson showed what he was capable of.

Does he drop that 75 yard TD if he plays in even 1 preseason game or gets more than a week of practice to prepare for that first opportunity. Obviously we can't know that but after that drop Aaron Rodgers does what I expected, looks over to the sideline as if to say, see I can't count on this rookie and proceeded to almost forget about him the rest of the game. Man how things might have changed if he only caught that first ball.

Only injury can stop Christian Watson IMHO and besides Megatron who had size on him or Moss who was leaner and more acrobatic with better hands than him, there is not really another comparison for the kind of athlete Watson is at his size.

Before the season I predicted Watson, Wyatt and Zach Tom would be our best performing rookies. Watson because of pure athletic talent. Tom because of excellent technique, positional versatility, athletic ability and calm demeanor. Wyatt because of amazing lateral agility and an explosive first step.

Watson took a minute but he's a proven game changing talent. No surprise with Tom he's exactly what I thought he could be when given the opportunity, he can start anywhere along the OL and will excel. Wyatt is the only guy I was wrong about but I don't think it's because of talent or ability, I just think he's been misused or more obviously not used hardly at all. That's kind of a shock considering Joe Barry coached on team with Aaron freaking Donald on it. Wyatt can be Donald like and you will see that in the coming years once they start playing him and allowing him to do the things that made him a first round pick in the first place.

Romeo Doubs is the one guy a lot of us thought might surprise and he showed that pretty quickly in training camp. Although he has had typical rookie struggles and missed time due to injury he looks like a keeper and potential number 2 next to Watson.

The future is bright with these 4 guys. Absolutely no doubt in my mind about that.

Given our draft history, let's just make it work to draft ALL of our picks in the 2nd round.

Certainly nobody on the Packers can be declared "head and shoulders above the rest" while they're sitting at 5-8. Not even if they finish 9-8.

Many are saying the WR room still needs help from the draft. I just crunched numbers comparing Sammy Watkins to Allen Lazard this year and Sammy is basically identical in reception % and yards per catch; slightly ahead in both. It feels like they're throwing him away. He'll be 29 next season, was a first round pick, and isn't he our second fastest offensive player?

We just watched them throw away Amari Rogers when they could have traded him before the deadline and gotten what, at least a fourth round pick? These are mistakes this organization can NOT afford, especially with the salary cap problems looming in coming years. They can develop the current room and be (theoretically) in good shape, or better. Lazard and Watson both at 6'5" is a one of a kind, right? They aren't using them on the perimeter where they're a safe target no matter how they're covered.
Hopefully all these guys play well the rest of the season, go Pack!

CW was one of my draft crushes. I was over the moon with the pick. However, through training camp injuries, his big drop on the first offensive play of the season, then injuries again, I started questioning my unconditional love for him. I completely forgot to be patient. Historically, WR’s in the NFL take a little time. With all that said, if he stays healthy and doesn’t turn into a diva, his career stats will land him “within” the top 30 receivers of all time. IMO, that’s his potential. I realize this is a bit cringe, but I’m gonna hit submit anyway.

"General Manager Brian Gutekunst decided the value at that point was on defense..."
So far i haven't seen that value.
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Up to week 8 i was saying that Doubs was outperforming Wyatt, Walker, and Watson.
Now your right, Watson is easily out performing Walker and Wyatt;
Either way....it's a pretty sad reflection of our two #1 picks.
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I'll go with the Packers Monday night, it will be interesting to see how our rookie's take to the cold.
I would think that Watson would fare better than the kid from L.A.
But we'll see.

Watson is just beginning. Confidence means so much.i would of love to see lazzard at tight end,sometimes, Watson, toure,doubs,Watkins on the field at the same time...I like our rookies....I would love to see Goodson on the 53.,then on the field. Watson reminds me of James Lofton ,
Go Pack Go 🧀