Could Christian Watson Be the Next Great Small-School Steelers WR?

We know Watson is fast. We know he’s a playmaker. His biggest drawback is that he won’t be Diontae Johnson, because he’s too big to be such a refined route runner. And that’s fine. No one really is. The Steelers don’t need that. And to quote TDN, Watson is a fine route runner. “He uses some creativity and nuance when running routes…He is creative enough to get separation on intermediate routes.” Watson shows uncommon quickness and agility for big receivers, frequently making cuts that aren’t typical for receivers that are 6”5. He uses that agility when running routes and when he has the ball in his hands.

I want to focus on his route running for a second. Watson is still a bit raw as a receiver and tends to rely on his size and athleticism over his technique. Occasionally he will use a rolling release off the line of scrimmage, rather than using varied release strategies or a crisp release with explosive acceleration. Likewise, while Watson is surprisingly good at generating separation with his quickness, he can round off his routes and hasn’t had to use his route running as a weapon. That’s one of his downsides, though I don’t think it’s a big problem for what the Steelers would ask.

Watson is very good at locating and tracking the ball down the field, as well as adjusting to haul in difficult passes. He often makes those adjustments very late in the rep, limiting the amount of time for DBs to react.

Watson displays excellent strength with his hands and is a fierce competitor when attacking the ball in the air. He has a great understanding of body positioning and uses his big frame intelligently. He uses that frame effectively when blocking and isn’t afraid to throw himself around when in run-support. This selfless blocking is what coaches LOVE to see.

Though Watson is a willing blocker who was frequently asked to take on defenders in the Bisons’ rushing attack, his technique is lacking and could lead to holding calls at the NFL level – not for lack of effort. Just something that can be cleaned up with a good receivers coach.

Let’s look at his production:

Games Played: 52

Receptions: 105

Yards (YPC): 2,140 (20.4 per catch)

Carries: 49

Yards (YPC): 392 (8.0 per carry)

Total Touchdowns: 16 (14 receiving, 2 rushing)

North Dakota State knew Watson was their best player and found every which way they could to get him the ball.

Watson took snaps at the X, Flanker, Slot, H-Back, and Running Back positions. He was also asked to run a wide variety of routes out of those positions, both using his speed to stretch the field and presenting a big target in the shallow or intermediate areas of the field. He was also schemed touches as a runner on sweeps and end-arounds to take advantage of his speed and general athleticism.

Why the Steelers should (or should not) be interested

The Steelers need speed on offense. Watson has that in spades. Add a 6”5 frame to that speed, and you have a real freak. What has me salivating, yes, salivating, over Watson is not necessarily even him as a prospect. I like the player, probably more than most.

Just imagine with me what the Steelers room would look like with these two:

-Chase Claypool: 6”4, 238 pounds, 4.43 40-yard dash

-Christian Watson: 6”5, 208, 4.3 40-yard dash (projected)

Freaks. That’s what Watson and Claypool are. Combining those two? What team in the NFL could afford to guard those two with their best cornerback covering Diontae Johnson? Johnson, as a top-5 route runner in the NFL, commands opposing teams’ number one DB. Watson and Claypool would be huge mismatches on whoever is covering them. That is what has me hoping the Steelers can land Watson in the second round.

Now, Watson does have a few drawbacks. First, he’s 208 pounds. He is a tall, skinny receiver. He plays with good contact balance, but that frame does have cause for concern. Second, he will never be a great route runner. He’s just too big to do so.

But that’s ok. The Steelers need a receiver who can take one to the house very time he touches the ball. Explosive, sudden, and a threat opposing defenses must pay attention to. Watson can do all of that. He’s a name to pay attention to, and if the Steelers can land him in the second round, I’d be happy. Watson probably won’t push into the first round, and he’s too talented to fall into the third. Like Chase Claypool in 2020, I think Watson will be 2022’s forgotten freak athlete.

That doesn’t mean he should be.

Consider the NFL put on notice.

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