Christian Watson, North Dakota State
No name came out of the NFL Combine hotter than Watson, whose small school profile quickly grew with impressive measurements coupled with a great appearance at the Senior Bowl. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 208 pounds, the combination of size and speed that the redshirt senior brings to the table is hard to match. On top of coming from a family with previous NFL experience when his dad entered the league in the 90s as a defensive back, Watson’s resume shows he is ready to prove his game at the next stage.
The question marks against Watson include his level of competition, playing for an annual championship contender at the FCS level and whether he can handle the defensive talent at the professional level. While it fair to question, you can’t teach the measurements and speed that Watson brings to the table. In addition to his efforts in the receiving game where he put up 800 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2021, Watson also brings return game experience. The speedy wideout posted an average of 22.7 yards per kickoff return last season and was a first-team All-American returner during his junior season.
Here’s what Last Word on Sports had to say about the hidden gem that has been creeping up draft boards:
“Watson should be an effective gadget and situational player from Day 1, but it’s anyone’s guess if he’ll ever develop into a true starting wide receiver. While he is fast and tall, he lacks the strength needed to win against physical cornerbacks and can get bullied at the point of attack when he can’t get by on height and speed alone. Additionally, he didn’t go up against the strongest competition in college, so he will need some time to adjust to life in the NFL.”
Whether or not the North Dakota State product will still be on the board when the Bears make their first selection in the second round remains to be seen. With an ever-rising draft stock and interest from several teams, including the Bears, Poles may need to show off his own speed in running to the podium to make the selection if he’s available.
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