5 draft mistakes that continue to haunt Packers in 2024

4. WR Christian Watson

This one might be a little bit of a hot take at this point.

Christian Watson is an exceptional athlete and someone who brings a lot to the table in terms of size, speed, and playmaking ability. In his first two NFL seasons, Watson has had some stretches of play where he looks like one of the better overall receivers in the league.

So, what's the big deal with this pick? Why is this selection haunting the Packers?

Well, we're heading into Watson's third NFL season, and no one is really sure whether or not he's going to be able to make that final leap into true "WR1" status for Green Bay. And now that the Packers have had multiple offseasons in a row where they've been seeking that guy to really replace Davante Adams as the number one in the offense.

At the time, and certainly looking in hindsight, the Packers could have taken a shot on a bit more of a risky player in round two and gone after Georgia's George Pickens, a first-round talent who fell to Day 2 mostly due to a torn ACL the year prior.

Over their first two years in the league, Pickens has 115 receptions compared to Watson's 69. Pickens has averaged more per reception, he has more touchdowns, more yards, and he's been available for all 34 games to open his career.

Watson has struggled with injuries and consistency, and although there's hope for him yet, the Packers may have had a little bit of misplaced confidence that he could become a WR1 faster than we're seeing.