Packers: Christian Watson a top-10 pick in ESPN’s 2022 re-draft

The Green Bay Packers landed wide receiver Christian Watson in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

If the NFL held a re-draft, they might not get so lucky.

A year on, ESPN has put together a re-draft for the 2022 class. It’s a fun exercise to see how opinions have changed after year one.

Unsurprisingly, Christian Watson doesn’t fall to the second round. In fact, he is a top-10 pick.

In the re-draft, wide receiver Garrett Wilson is selected seventh overall by the New York Giants, meaning the New York Jets miss out on the player they took three selections later.

So, at No. 10, Christian Watson is the choice for the Jets.

“Chris Olave would’ve been a fine choice, too, but Watson has a higher ceiling because of his size, speed and vertical ability,” wrote ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

Of course, Watson going inside the top 10 means the Packers would miss out on their young star wide receiver. It also means they would never trade up to get Watson in the first place, so instead would own two second-round selections.

The re-draft has Green Bay still selecting Quay Walker 22nd overall, but picks edge rusher George Karlaftis at No. 28 instead of defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.

Karlaftis has been excellent for the Kansas City Chiefs, making the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He would have helped the Packers’ pass rush.

But they still end up with Wyatt in this re-draft.

ESPN has Green Bay picking wide receiver Romeo Doubs and Wyatt in the second round.

They get Doubs earlier than in real life, a sign that he outperformed expectations. And they get Wyatt a round later.

What this re-draft shows is that Brian Gutekunst drafted well. The re-draft has Green Bay still picking three players it actually selected, while another went inside the top 10.