The 2022 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Christian Watson 2022 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Wide Receiver
Size: 6-foot-4, 208 pounds
Class: Redshirt Senior
2021 stats: 43 receptions, 801 receiving yards, 18.6 yards per catch, 7 touchdown catches
Watson was a late riser in the draft process after playing at North Dakota State. He is currently one of the top wide receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
As a two-star prospect, Watson decided to attend North Dakota State to play at the FCS level. After redshirting as a freshman, he caught nine passes for 165 yards as a redshirt freshman. In his sophomore season, he registered 34 catches for 732 yards and six touchdowns. He was the leading receiver for the Bison as they won the National Championship. In 2020, he registered 19 catches for 442 yards and a touchdown, while also being a successful returner. North Dakota State lost in the quarterfinal that season. He returned to lead the Bison in receiving with 43 receptions for 801 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bison won another National Championship to cap off Watson’s career.
After exhausting his college eligibility, Watson has been preparing for the pro level. He is currently projected to be a first or second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
His frame is the first strength that evaluators will notice. He is 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, which gives him an advantage over most corners he will go up against. He has long arms at 32 1/2 inches, which paired with his jumping ability, gives him a big catch radius. He will be an easy target for a quarterback.
For his size, he has good speed. He ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine and that speed shows up on tape. This speed helps make him a matchup problem. Bigger corners may not be able to keep up with him, while smaller corners can’t fight him for 50/50 balls.
In addition to his receiving ability, Watson also proved to be a great return man at North Dakota State. He uses his great straight-line speed and open-field vision to spring big returns. His return ability is something that also shows up in his run after the catch ability.
His route-running could improve to help give him separation on underneath routes. He doesn’t get in and out of his breaks quickly enough. Because he is a bigger receiver, he has to gear down before making his breaks, this doesn’t allow him to get a lot of separation.
Watson could use his size better. While he does have a height advantage, Watson could afford to add some muscle to his frame and be more physical. If he learns to box out defenders and be more physical, he’ll be even more of a red zone/jump-ball threat.
At North Dakota State, Watson didn’t have the opportunity to play the best corners every week. There are some quality corners at the FCS level, but nothing like he would have faced on a weekly basis in a big conference at the FBS level. He may struggle to adjust early in his career to the talent jump.
Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick-Second Round Pick
Make sure to check out our brand new NFL Draft page for more content like the Christian Watson 2022 NFL Draft Profile!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
