GREEN BAY, Wis. – This is not a successor to the first round, but for the Green Bay Packers this is the next best thing.
In fact, the second-best thing.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, who on Thursday pushed the team’s series not to draw a successor in the first round for up to 20 years, did not wait long to make a move on Friday. He sent both of his second-round picks (№ 53 and 59) to rival Minnesota Vikings for the 34th overall pick to take North Dakota’s successor, Christian Watson.
Watson was the seventh receiver to be drafted and the first on Day 2.
1 Related
Watson became the last successor in the second round, drawn by Packers, joining Davante Adams (№ 53 overall in 2014), Randall Cobb (№ 64 in 2011) and Jordi Nelson (№ 36 in 2008) – All of which were favorite targets of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“We had great success with the second and third round receivers in Green Bay,” Rodgers said Thursday night on Pat McAfee’s SiriusXM and YouTube show after the Packers failed to pick up a first-round receiver. “You see Greg Jennings, Jordi Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones in the third round [in 2007], apparently Davante Adams in the second round. These guys turned out to be pretty good. “
Now, Watson just needs to figure out how to reunite with Rodgers, something that has taken time for young receivers in the past.
“I’ll say I’m ready to work,” Watson said when asked what he would say to Rodgers when they met. “I am ready to study and I am ready to pursue it. I know he will be tough on me and that is exactly what I want. I want someone who will keep pushing me to be the best player I can be, and I know that with him being one of the greatest, he’ll get everything out of me, so shoot, I’ll tell him that I’m ready to work and shoot, I’m ready to go. “
Watson’s father, Tim, was selected in the Packers’ sixth round in 1993 as a security guard. Although his father never played for the Packers, he had a brief stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, who played a total of 13 games from 1993 to 1997.
Asked if his father still had Packers equipment, Watson said: “I definitely think so. It was a great achievement for him. These are his roots, so he definitely sticks to it. I’m sure there’s a lot of green and yellow around the house to throw away when he gets home. “
6 feet 4 and 208 pounds Watson caught 43 passes for 801 yards with seven touchdowns last season for North Dakota, who won the FCS national title. In four years for Bison, he averaged 20.4 yards per catch and also has two returns from the start of his touchdown career.
“His physical qualities and athleticism will make it much easier [to contribute immediately] from someone who is 6 feet, 185 pounds, “said Packers football operations director Milt Hendrickson.” He’s just not like that; he is a great man. “
This off-season Packers traded Adams, who wanted to go out, to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 53rd pick, which was sent to Minnesota, was part of that Las Vegas trade, along with No. 22 overall. Green Bay also lost receivers Marquez Valdez-Scuntling and Equanimeus St. Brown to a free agency.
Packers’ best successor is Alan Lazard, who had 40 catches in 513 yards and eight touchdowns last season. No other Shiraut currently on Green Bay’s roster, including newcomer Sammy Watkins, had up to 400 yards last season.
Green Bay did not tackle the problem with the receiver on Thursday and instead focused on the defense in the first round, taking two teammates from Georgia, using the 22nd overall selection of midfielder Quay Walker and taking Devon Wyatt at number 28.
The Packers have not chosen a broad successor in the first round since taking Florida’s Javon Walker in 20th place in 2002.
But this is the highest reception Packers has received from Walker’s election. Although Hendrickson declined to say whether the Packers had tried to return in the first round on Thursday to select Watson, he mentioned something his old Baltimore Ravens boss, Ozzy Newsham, used to say.
“I spent many years in Baltimore and [Newsome] he would always say, “The choice is just a choice until you become a player,” Hendrickson said. “And from that point of view, if you love the player, you just find a way to catch him.”
This report uses information from the Associated Press.
Add Comment