FARGO North Dakota State offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl was at a fundraising event Friday night at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex when the big screens in Scheels Center started to show ESPN’s broadcast of the NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers had traded up near the top of the second round with the Minnesota Vikings. Roehl anticipated good news in regards to former Bison receiver Christian Watson.
“It’s time, it’s going to happen,” Roehl said, recalling the moment.
It did happen. The Packers selected the 6-foot-4, 208-pound Watson at No. 34 overall, the second selection in the second round.
“Christian was picked,” said Roehl, who estimated hundreds were in attendance at the event. “The place went crazy in terms of people clapping, yelling, arms up in the air, high-fiving, it was awesome. It was really, really cool.”
https://twitter.com/packers/status/1520181597588398081?s=20&t=n0u4MCuE5Afmj8V-hvk9ew Watson became the first Bison player to get selected in the top two rounds in the past two NFL Drafts. In 2021, former NDSU quarterback Trey Lance was taken No. 3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers. The Tennessee Titans took former Bison offensive tackle Dillon Radunz at No. 53 overall in the second round last year.
Watson has a chance to play with Packers All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay was expected to select receiving help early in the draft after the Packers traded star receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.
“The opportunity that he has with the Packers, I don’t think it could be any better,” Roehl said. “His potential is really high and then to be playing in sync in rhythm with Aaron Rodgers. If he can go in there and earn the trust of the quarterback and the coaches early … he could have a really, really big first two years.”
In his final season with the Bison, Watson caught 43 passes for 801 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 18.6 yards per reception. He played 52 games during his NDSU career, catching 105 passes for 2,140 yards and 14 TDS over four seasons, while playing in a run-heavy offense.
“We didn’t have to throw the ball a lot to win games, but when we did he rose up in a big way,” Roehl said. “I think it says a lot. The NFL is going to find the talent. No matter what style of offense you are in.”
https://twitter.com/CoachNPauley/status/1520210102799814656?s=20&t=GUAqtNYAFzTFz5NSFiDjEg
Roehl gave Watson’s game against Missouri State last fall as an example. Watson made multiple big catches late in the game, including the game-winning 24-yard touchdown catch with less than five minutes to play in the fourth quarter of a 27-20 victory.
“When we needed him late, that was a big ‘wow’ moment for a lot of people,” Roehl said. “We may not have had to rely on big-time plays consistently, but when we did need them he made them.”
Watson had a strong pre-draft process with an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl college all-star game and the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds.
“I see someone who can still develop, fine tune, still a young kid still really growing into his body,” Roehl said. “He has good skill and technique, but once you enhance and learn how to play at the speed of NFL defenses and NFL corners and the NFL tempo, his ceiling is so high. There are not a lot of people that size that run that fast and have that good of a catch radius and catch the ball that clean.”
Watson was a big-play threat throughout his Bison career, averaging 20.4 yards per reception. He also scored two rushing touchdowns and two return TDs over his four seasons.
“I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity he has with the Packers,” Roehl said. ]]> |
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