Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is excited about the long-term potential of second-round pick Christian Watson, but he thinks his rookie receiver can make an immediate impact in Green Bay as a replacement for Marquez Valdes-Scantling as the deep threat in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
“Obviously, the speed and the size jump off the tape, that’s certainly going to give us something to take the top off the defense,” Gutekunst told Sirius XM NFL Radio. “With MVS leaving in free agency, (Watson) will replace that, hopefully, initially.”
Valdes-Scantling stood 6-4 and ran 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. Watson stands 6-4 and ran 4.3 in the 40-yard dash, giving him the rare size-speed blend the Packers like in a deep threat.
LaFleur’s offense needs to have a player capable of threatening defenses over the top, both to open up space for others underneath by occupying safeties deep and creating explosive plays down the field. Valdes-Scantling handled the role for the last three seasons, but he’s now in Kansas City after signing a big deal in free agency.
Watson averaged over 20 yards per catch and created 57 plays of at least 20 yards at North Dakota State. Over 30 percent of his career touches – as a receiver, rusher and returner – gained at least 20 yards.
Gutekunst traded up in the second round – moving up 19 spots from No. 53 to No. 34 – to get Watson early on Day 2 of the draft. In addition to his size and speed, Gutekunst pointed specifically to Watson’s ability to create with the ball in his hands.
“I think his ability to develop into an all-around receiver,” Gutekunst said of Watson’s fit. “His run after the catch – they handed the ball to him a lot in the backfield, he’s kick returned before – so his ability once he gets the ball in his hands to break tackles, make people miss and gain extra yards is something that is important to us.”
Right after selecting Watson in the draft, Packers director of football operations Milt Hendrickson said the North Dakota State star has the size and speed to be a “vertical” threat right away. He also called Watson a “playmaker” who requires the defense to know where he is “every time he’s on the field.”
“That’s a weapon for an offense,” Hendrickson said.
Gutekunst also dismissed the running narrative of the Packers not drafting a receiver in the first round. He thinks Watson could be next in a long line of highly productive receivers drafted by the Packers on Day 2, including Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams.
“We’ve had some pretty good receivers around here, they’ve all been drafted in the second or third round,” Gutekunst said. “We think he can be one of those guys, that fits into our culture.”
The Packers also like Watson’s commitment and proficiency as a blocker. He did a lot of work getting people blocked up in North Dakota State’s offense, and he’ll be asked to do the same for LaFleur in Green Bay.
“To play here for Matt, you’re gonna have to block. He’s certainly very good atthat. We like the physicality he brings. And we do think his best football is ahead of him.”
With a unique blend of size and speed and an ability with the ball in his hands and as a blocker, Watson has a real chance to both contribute as a rookie and develop into a long-term solution for the Packers at wide receiver.
