Tag: christian watson

Packers WR Christian Watson is one of top 10 fastest players on ‘Madden NFL 24’

Speed. Kills. Packers WR Christian Watson has 96 speed in the new “Madden NFL 24” video game.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson will be one of the fastest virtual players in “Madden NFL 24.”

Watson, who has 96 speed, is tied with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Jets receiver Mecole Hardman, Browns receiver Anthony Schwartz, Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett, Jets cornerback Javelin Gaudry, Vikings cornerback Kalon Barnes and Patriots receiver Tyquan Thornton for the eighth-fastest speed rating in the video game at launch. He is the fastest Packers player on the game.

Watson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds despite standing 6-4 and weighing over 200 pounds at the 2022 combine. By size, Watson’s 40-yard dash time ranks in the 97th percentile by Relative Athletic Score. His 10-yard split of 1.45 seconds ranks in the 99th percentile.

Watson used his blazing speed to create a number of big plays as a rookie, including a 63-yard catch-and-run touchdown from quarterback Jordan Love in Philadelphia. He had nine plays over 20 yards, including four touchdowns of at least 39 yards.

Expect to create plenty of long touchdowns when playing with Watson and the Packers in this year’s Madden:

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Former Packers QB says current Jets WR reminds him of former Packers WR

Who will be the better QB-WR combo in 2023? Rodgers and Wilson, or Love and Watson?

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was traded to the New York Jets in April, recently said current Jets receiver Garrett Wilson reminds him of former Packers receiver Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.

“Davante is in a category by still, but that 17 reminds me of the other 17 as far as his ability to get out of breaks and his quick twitch at the line of scrimmage,” Rodgers said.

For Wilson, the comparison to Adams from Rodgers is the ultimate compliment.

In 2022, Wilson caught 83 passes for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie despite playing with three different starting quarterbacks.

This year, Wilson — an All-Rookie pick and the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year — will get a chance to establish himself as one of the league’s best receivers with Rodgers, a four-time MVP, throwing him the football.

Rodgers and Adams, a three-time All-Pro, connected for 68 touchdown passes while in Green Bay. Adams left Rodgers and the Packers in 2022 but still caught 100 passes for 1,516 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns with the Raiders.

The physical skill with Wilson is evident. Getting on the same page as Rodgers, who wants his offense run a certain way on every play, will be key to the pair blossoming in 2023.

Meanwhile, new connections are forming in Titletown. Can Jordan Love and Christian Watson or Romeo Doubs quickly develop the rapport all great quarterback-receiver combinations need to be successful? Watson, who caught seven touchdowns as a rookie, including a 63-yarder from Love in Philadelphia, has star potential entering Year 2. Love is an unknown, but he’s a first-rounder who sat behind Rodgers for three years.

A potentially interesting comparison to track in 2023: Will Rodgers and Wilson or Love and Watson be the better quarterback-receiver combo? The obvious answer is Rodgers and Wilson, given the quarterback’s experience and Wilson’s incredible rookie season. But Love is a wildcard as a first-year starter and Watson’s finish to the 2022 season keeps the door open to the Packers having an incredibly productive quarterback-receiver combo this season.

Good news for Packers with Year 2 often providing production jumps for WRs

The Packers offense needs jumps from Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Fortunately, Year 2 is often the sweet spot for WRs.

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If the Green Bay Packers offense is going to find regular success in 2023, it is going to require Year 2 leaps from at least one, but likely both, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. The good news is that the second season for many wide receivers ends up being their breakout years.

In an article from Ryan Heath of Fantasy Points, he writes that oftentimes, wide receivers underwhelm as rookies before making a “big leap” in their sophomore seasons. From there, those receivers who made that jump then gradually improved over the next few years. Since 2014, 28% of receivers have seen significant jumps in production in their second NFL seasons, and nearly 33% in Year 3.

Heath also adds that yards per route run as a rookie can be “extremely predictive” of future success. This efficiency metric, in particular, pertains to Watson, who ranked 11th among all receivers last season in this stat category, averaging 2.26 yards per route run, according to PFF.

Although the pads are yet to come on, the Packers’ offseason programs may have already provided us with a small glimpse into the potential growth that both Watson and Doubs have experienced as they embark on their second seasons. In part, these developmental leaps take place because the players are more comfortable with the playbook and their responsibilities. Matt LaFleur has commented that there is a night and day difference between Watson this year compared to last, while Doubs says that he is playing much faster.

During a red zone drill in the first minicamp practice, Doubs was able to create enough separation against Jaire Alexander in coverage and made a sliding catch in the back left corner of the end zone. Later on, Jordan Love connected with Watson a deep ball down the left sideline, where the nearest defender was Alexander. Following that practice, Alexander acknowledged that those plays probably aren’t happening this time a year ago, showcasing the progression that both players have had.

With Watson and Doubs now as the veterans in this Green Bay receiving room, they, of course, are going to be asked to do a lot more. This includes as leaders but also in their responsibilities and what they are asked to do on the football field, not only in total targets. At the NFL Owners’ meetings earlier this offseason, LaFleur said that, while refinement is still needed, he doesn’t believe that there is a route that Doubs can’t run. He also added that Watson’s route responsibilities and what he’s asked to do are going to grow as well. In short, because of this we will see each player running in a wider variety of routes this season, creating additional opportunities for each.

Along with a greater variance in the type of routes that each player is asked to run, more targets over the middle of the field, which should lead to YAC opportunities, will be more prevalent as it is a key aspect of the LaFleur offense. Versatility and speed are also hallmarks of this new-look Packers’ offense, which means a variety of different alignments being utilized around the formation, helping to generate mismatches and keep the defense off-balance. There will also be an emphasis on getting the Green Bay pass catchers the ball in space, where they can use that speed to make plays. All of this should take at least some of the playmaking burden off the shoulders of Watson and Doubs, with the LaFleur scheme doing some of the work for them.

Ultimately, there is no guarantee that Watson and Doubs are going to see significant jumps this season, and although things look promising now, both will have to carry that momentum through the rest of summer and into the season. However, for what it’s worth, the recipe and ingredients for a pair of Year 2 leaps from each player is there, which again, is a must for this offense.

Packers WR Christian Watson thrived in two important categories as a rookie

Packers WR Christian Watson got it done after the catch and in contested catch situations as a rookie.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson finished among the NFL’s best in two important aspects of playing the position during his impressive rookie season.

According to data from Pro Football Focus, Watson ranked fourth among qualifying receivers in average yards after the catch (YAC) and tied for first among qualifying receivers in contested catch percentage. Watson averaged 6.4 yards after the catch per reception and completed nine of 12 contested catch opportunities (75 percent) during the 2022 season.

It’s a small sample size, to be sure. Watson caught only 41 passes total, and 12 contested catch opportunities isn’t a lot. Still, the two numbers help highlight the incredible promise Watson showed as a rookie because winning after the catch (using his speed/athleticism) and winning at the catch point against tight coverage (using his size/athleticism) are two areas that can separate the good from the great at the position.

It will be interesting to see if Watson, with a bigger workload expected and defenses primed to stop him in 2023, can continue excelling in both areas.

Getting open consistently is also very important. Watson, who had only 65 targets in 2022, didn’t qualify for PFF’s open-target percentage (needed 75 targets), but we reached out to the site to see where Watson would haveranked in the stat if the qualifiers were lower. Considering only 12 of his 65 targets were considered contested, it’s a good bet that Watson was considered open on a high percentage of his overall targets.

In less-specific PFF stats, Watson ranked 11th among qualifying wide receivers in yards per route run (2.26), a strong metric that weighs production against opportunity, and third in passer rating when targeted (123.3). Again, it will be fascinating to see if Watson can continue being hyper-efficient as the clear-cut No. 1 target in a passing game run by Jordan Love and not Aaron Rodgers.

NFC North Roundtable: Player to draft in dynasty fantasy football leagues

Our NFC North wire editors answered the question of which player you should target in dynasty fantasy football leagues.

The Chicago Bears are building around Justin Fields, the Detroit Lions are entering the season as betting favorites to win the division, the Green Bay Packers are transitioning from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love and the Minnesota Vikings are attempting to repeat as division champs for the first time since 2008-09.

There’s a lot going on in the NFC North this season.

In the latest of a series of posts previewing the division ahead of the 2023 season, Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire, Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire, Zach Kruse of Packers Wire and Tyler Forness of Vikings Wire answered the question: What player should you target in dynasty fantasy football leagues?

Jaire Alexander: Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson ‘standing out’ in offseason workout program

The Packers’ All-Pro cornerback is liking what he’s seeing out of second-year receivers Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson.

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Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander wasn’t present during the voluntary portion of the offseason workout program, but he kept up with team through watching practice tape, and he likes what he’s seeing out of second-year receivers Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson entering 2023.

Doubs caught a touchdown pass in a red zone drill against Alexander’s coverage during Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp practice.

“He deserves it. He’s been working hard. I’ve been watching the practices. Him and Christian have been standing out. He’s been working hard,” Alexander said Tuesday.

Watson also got behind Alexander for a long touchdown during a team drill Tuesday.

Alexander said the receiving corps overall has stood out, and Jordan Love has “dropped some good passes” during OTAs.

Alexander knows challenging the Packers young passing game is going to help everyone get better.

“These are the guys are on team that we’re going to be rocking with. It’s good to challenge them,” Alexander said. “I want to see the best for the team.”

Minicamp continues with another practice Wednesday and concludes Thursday with a team activity away from football. Alexander said he’ll turn up the intensity even more once training camp arrives.

Doubs, the favorite for the No. 2 receiver job behind Watson, is winning over the Packers’ All-Pro corner.

“Doubs caught a touchdown on me and I gave him a hug almost. Good stuff, man,” Alexander said. The year before, he didn’t catch anything.”

Christian Watson on Jordan Love: ‘We have full confidence in him’

Christian Watson expressed team-wide confidence in Packers starting QB Jordan Love in an interview with PFF.

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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson believes his team has “full confidence” in’ first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love after the 2020 first-round pick sat behind future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers for three seasons.

“People need to understand that [Love] was learning and practicing and in the meeting rooms with a Hall of Fame quarterback each and every day,” Watson told Trevor Sikkema of PFF. “He’s his own quarterback, but I’m sure he’s taken so many things from Aaron [Rodgers]. We’ve seen a lot of flashes of what he can do. It’s only going to be put more on display. Everything we’ve seen so far is only going to be multiplied. We’re ready to go out there and ball. We have full confidence in him.”

Love’s one and only touchdown pass during the 2022 season came on a 63-yard connection with Watson in primetime against the Philadelphia Eagles after Rodgers left the contest with an injury.

Now, with Rodgers traded to New York, Green Bay’s new quarterback and receiver pair will get a chance to lead the way in the Packers passing game in 2023.

Watson, a second-round pick in 2022, emerged as a pass-catching star over the second half of his rookie season, producing 31 catches for 523 yards and seven scores over the final eight regular-season games. Love will need him to pick up where he left off to open Year 2, especially considering the youth and inexperience of the wide receiver and tight end rooms in Green Bay.

Watson is the top target. Love is the new starter. Together, the tandem will determine if the Packers have a passing attack capable of being competitive this season.

Development of Packers WRs Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs key for Jordan Love

The Packers need to add more talent at wide receiver, but the development of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs will be most important for Jordan Love.

The route-running abilities of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs will hopefully make things easier on Green Bay Packers’ first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love and allow Matt LaFleur as the play-caller the opportunity to keep opposing defenses off balance.

For a Packers team that is limited in what they can do in free agency, Green Bay’s biggest improvements in 2023 are going to have to come internally from players who are entering their second and third NFL seasons, where the largest leaps are often made.

Watson and Doubs, of course, fall into that category. Both were limited at various points during their rookie seasons due to injuries, which slowed their growth, but they were also learning a new offense and adjusting to the NFL as well.

Now entering Year 2, where Watson and Doubs are presumably healthy along with more comfortable with the playbook, each has the opportunity to take on larger roles within the offense, with both possessing the ability to run a variety of route concepts.

At the NFL Annual Meetings last week, LaFleur was very complimentary of his second-year pass-catchers, telling reporters that Watson will be asked to run more routes. LaFleur added that he doesn’t believe there is a route that Doubs can’t run and compared his movement skills to that of Davante Adams.

“He (Watson) is a guy who can handle a lot,” said LaFleur via Packers.com. “I haven’t been around too many rookies where you can move their position in game, and he wouldn’t even flinch. He is exceptionally intelligent and knows the plan inside and out, but there’s a level of detail that is going to get better with him. Quite frankly, we are going to ask him to run more routes than he did a year ago.

“He’s (Doubs) got a unique skill set,” LaFleur later mentioned. “I want to temper this comparison, but he’s got some Davante Adams-type movement skills. Now, he’s got to learn when to use it and how to harness that, but he’s got that twitch that you’re looking for. I don’t think there’s a route that he won’t be able to run; we’re just going to have to give him enough reps to where he can continue his progression.”

What this does is it allows LaFleur to get much more creative with his play designs. We hear LaFleur talk about the “illusion of complexity,” and what Watson and Doubs can do as route runners helps him achieve that by the offense being able to run similar plays from a variety of formations, along with different plays that begin similarly. The end result is that defenses will have a more difficult time deciphering what is coming, given that there is a variety of possibilities.

With Love at quarterback, at least early on in the season, it’s going to be important that the play designs cultivated from Watson and Doubs’ diverse route trees help shoulder some of the burden and create easier opportunities for him in the passing game.

To complement Watson and Doubs, the Packers could very much benefit from another deep threat at the receiver position. With opponents having to respect the downfield shot, that element will help create additional room underneath for Doubs and Watson. Perhaps this player is already on the roster in Samori Toure, or the Packers could look to the draft with players such as Jalin Hyatt, Marvin Mims, Dontayvion Wicks, Tyler Scott, Trey Palmer, and Quentin Johnston, to name a few.

To add to what the Packers already have, adding a wide receiver prospect who can win in a variety of ways and at all levels of the field would further complicate things for opposing defenses. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cedric Tillman are two early-round options who could help in that capacity.

With all that said, Doubs and Watson still have to show that they can regularly take on those additional route running responsibilities, and if so, that alone doesn’t guarantee success for the offense either. But this development should help expand the offense and create some easier pitch-and-catch opportunities for Love.

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Unpacking Future Packers: No. 78, Cincinnati WR Tyler Scott

Up next in Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott.

History always finds a way to repeat itself. After selecting Aaron Rodgers with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, then general manager Ted Thompson invested heavily into the wide receiver position, with the hope that when Rodgers took over he’d have a group of wide receivers to grow with. Terrance Murphy, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson were all Top 78 picks over the next four years for the Green Bay Packers. 

Brian Gutekunst seems to be following the same script. A year after selecting Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick, Gutekunst traded up in the third round for Amari Rodgers. The following season Gutekunst moved up in the second round to draft Christian Watson with the 34th overall pick, the highest that the Packers have selected a wide receiver since picking Nelson with the 36th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. 

If the Packers select a wide receiver on day two of the 2023 NFL Draft a player that Gutekunst could target is Tyler Scott. The Cincinnati wide receiver checks in at No. 78 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown. 

In 2021, Scott reeled in 30 receptions for 520 yards and five touchdowns. This past season, Scott caught 54 passes for 899 yards and nine touchdowns.

A track athlete in high school, Scott’s calling card is his speed. The Cincinnati wide receiver has an instant accelerator and track-like speed to win vertically. 

“Scott’s speed and athleticism is his greatest strength,” Shane Hallam, the managing partner of DraftCountdown.com said. “Scott is able to utilize his athletic ability off the line to get open quickly and do damage after the catch whether it be with long-range speed or breaking tackles in the open field.”

As a route runner, Scott does a good job of mixing up his gears to keep defensive backs off balance. He’s a double-move maestro. Scott explodes in and out of his breaks to create separation. He tracks the ball well in flight. According to Pro Football Focus, Scott was targeted 88 times and had seven drops this past season.

“Scott is a very solid route runner,” Hallam said. “He takes sharp cuts, especially on slants, Ins, and Outs. The explosion off the line combined with sharp footwork makes him very difficult to cover.”

With the ball in his hands, Scott is a shifty athlete to force missed tackles and creates after the catch. Due to his speed, he stresses pursuit angles once he gets the ball in his hands. According to PFF, Scott racked up 361 yards after the catch this past season. 

“His speed makes him a deep threat who can beat corners on a nine route and make big plays,” Hallam said. “Combined with his athleticism and elusiveness in space, Scott is hard to tackle and can take short screens and slants for longer distances. He is a nightmare to tackle in open space.”

Scott’s undersized and there could be concerns about his play strength. That could be something that keeps him off Green Bay’s board. He gives the required effort as a blocker out on the perimeter, but with his size, it may never be a strength of his game. 

“He gives good effort and often can hold a corner for a bit,” Hallam said. “Longer corners give him issues and he can allow penetration. It will be one area that some teams may knock him on.”

Scott had limited kick return experience during his time as a Bearcat. After returning kicks in high school, Scott returned just six kickoffs during his time in Cincinnati. With his track speed and shiftiness, it could be something he’s asked to do at the next level. 

Fit with the Packers

The Packers need to continue to add weapons to the wide receiver room. They have a budding star in Watson. Rome Doubs looked solid as a rookie. Samori Toure flashed in limited action and could take on a bigger role moving forward. 

With those pieces in place, the Packers have a foundation in place. Now, Gutekunst needs to continue to add pieces to that room, just like Thompson did all those years ago. 

Tucker is a smooth route runner, he’s dynamic and a big-play threat. On top of all that, he has special teams value as a kick returner. 

“The speed, athleticism, and route running can make him a real offensive weapon,” Hallam said. “Despite lacking in size, he can be used creatively for big plays as well as moving the chains. Ultimately, he is an ideal day-two pick with great upside in a good offensive system.”

Scott may be undersized (185 pounds) and that could keep him off Green Bay’s board. It’s just hard to imagine Gutekunst and his staff keeping a player with Scott’s playmaking ability off their board due to five pounds. 

If Scott is on the board when the Packers are on the clock in the second or even third round, his speed and big-play ability could be difficult to pass up. He has the ability to take the top off and that vertical threat could help open things up underneath for the other playmakers in Green Bay’s offense.

The old adage is that speed kills. Adding a player of Scott’s ilk and pairing him with Watson could put a lot of stress on opposing defenses.

 

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 84, Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is dynamic Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers appear to have hit a home run on Christian Watson. Brian Gutekunst traded up in the second round to nab the North Dakota State University wide receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft. When Watson was healthy, he proved to be a dynamic playmaker with his world-class speed. Now, the Packers need to continue to add more electric weapons this offseason. 

A player that Gutekunst could target in the 2023 NFL Draft is Jalin Hyatt. The Tennessee wide receiver checks in at No. 84 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.

A four-star recruit out of South Carolina, Hyatt caught 20 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman in 2020. The following season, Hyatt reeled in 21 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

This past season, Hyatt became the first Tennessee wide receiver to win the Biletnikoff Award. Hyatt finished the season with 67 receptions for an SEC-leading 1,267 yards and a program-record 15 touchdowns. 

“Hyatt had the best season in college football in 2022,” Adam Sparks, the Tennessee reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel said. “I voted for him for the Biletnikoff Award, which he won. He had one of the best receiving games in SEC history (five touchdown catches vs Alabama) and did his best work against Top 25 teams. After a few years of trying to find his niche, he located it in a big way as a vertical threat, mostly in the slot, for the No. 1 offense in college football.”

Hyatt’s trump card is his speed. Alabama, a team that will likely have four defensive backs selected in the Top 150 in April had no answer for the speed merchant. The Tennessee wide receiver finished the game against the Crimson Tide with six receptions for 207 yards and five touchdowns, with two of those touchdowns going for 60 and 78 yards. Alabama knew what he was going to do and still could not contain him. 

To quote Lightning McQueen, Hyatt is speed. He’s faster than fast. He’s quicker than quick. He’s lightning. This past season, Hyatt led the Nation with 11 receptions of 40-plus yards. The former four-star recruit also had five receptions of 60-plus yards. 

The Volunteer wide receiver just has a different gear and was typically the fastest guy on the field. He’s able to get on top cornerbacks with his long strides and he creates vertical separation with his world-class speed. It was a remarkable feat to watch him just run right by with ease against SEC defensive backs. 

“I’ll be curious to see his 40 time in workouts,” Sparks said. “That’s where his draft stock could rise the most. Hyatt has great genes for running. His mom was a sprinter and later his high school track coach. His dad was an elite cyclist. Hyatt has a tremendous burst but also sustained stamina. That showed up quite a bit in Tennessee’s up-tempo offense, which is the fastest operating in college football at about three plays per minute. Hyatt sprinted past defenders early in games and late when defensive backs were perhaps a half-step slower.”

Hyatt tracks the ball well in flight and has reliable hands. According to PFF, Hyatt had five drops on 89 targets this past season. 

Hyatt is a home run vertical threat. Nobody in this draft class can match him in that category. He’s lacking branches on his route tree. In Tennessee’s offense, he wasn’t asked to run a diverse route tree, so his route running will need polishing. He also didn’t face a lot of press coverage and lined up in the slot 87 percent of the time this past season. 

“I think a big question for him is where he fits in a receiving corps,” Sparks said. “Early in his career, he certainly had the speed to play outside, but he wasn’t physical enough to get off press-man coverage. He thrived in the slot, where coverage was softer at the line of scrimmage. But his route-running seems to fit an outside receiver more than a slot receiver. Hyatt gained strength last year, which made him more versatile on the outside or slot. But there’s still a question about where he fits. I think his skillset makes more sense on the outside, but his perceived lack of physicality pushes him inside.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Hyatt finished this past season with 537 yards after the catch. With the ball in his hands, he has the speed to destroy pursuit angles. A huge chunk of those yards came with Hyatt simply just running away from defensive backs with his bye-bye speed after he got the ball downfield. 

“Hyatt can run away from just about any defender, with or without the ball in his hands,” Sparks said. “But he has more breakaway straight-line speed than lateral stop-and-start elusive speed. That’s what makes him an interesting case. If he’s in the slot, he may not be an elite catch-and-run guy, but he’ll burn past any defensive back on a vertical route. So he’s not a cookie cutter receiver. A creative offensive mind can really utilize him.”

Fit with the Packers

Speed kills. It can’t be coached and Hyatt has world-class speed that would put a lot of stress on opposing defenses. If a team can be patient with his skill set and help him polish his route running, he could develop into more than a one-trick pony. 

“If I had confidence that my offensive coaching staff could utilize a particular playmaker and his skill sets I would draft Hyatt,” Sparks said. “Again, Hyatt may be a hybrid – a slot receiver whose best routes are more typical for outside receivers. If used properly, he’s a matchup nightmare. If misused, he’s jammed too much on the outside or minimized in the slot with short routes. If Hyatt is going north and south, he’s making big plays. If he’s going east and west, his impact is lessened. So if I loved the deep ball in all forms – think Al Davis’ old draft mentality – then I’d draft Hyatt. But I wouldn’t draft him without a plan and an understanding of his unique makeup.”

Matt LaFleur was creative in how he got the ball in Watson’s hands during his rookie season. Watson also silenced a lot of critics that said he was raw coming out of NDSU. He proved to be a well-rounded wide receiver as a rookie.

That likely won’t be the case for Hyatt. He may be more of a one-hit-wonder during his rookie season. That one-hit could be a classic, like Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch’s, Good Vibrations.

Then again, like Watson at NDSU, Hyatt just wasn’t asked to run an expansive route tree in Tennessee’s spread offense. Maybe he comes into camp and showcases a part of his game that he didn’t get to put on tape. 

If Hyatt were to land in Green Bay, there is little doubt that LaFleur would put him in a position to excel during his first year in the league while he rounds out the rest of his game. 

A year ago, Gutekunst traded up and landed a dynamic playmaker in Watson. If Hyatt is sitting on the board to start day two of the 2023 NFL Draft, it would not be shocking to see Green Bay’s general manager make a move to go up and get the 2022 Biletnikoff Award Winner. 

An offense with Watson and Hyatt on the field together with their speed would be the cause for many sleepless nights for opposing defensive coordinators.Â