Watson and Doubs provide long-term foundation for receiving corps. What does unit need next?
Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs look like strong building blocks that can form the backbone of a quality receiving corps. But the Packers still have some roles to fill to complete the unit.
For several years under general manager Brian Gutekunst, the Green Bay Packers put off rebuilding their receiving corps. That notion existed for some time but finally took hold this past offseason when the team essentially rebooted at the position in its most significant way in decades.
Not that the unit lacked talent. Davante Adams developed into an All-Pro wideout, undisputedly the finest to play the position in Green Bay during the Aaron Rodgers era and the best to do so since at least Sterling Sharpe. Adams set franchise records for most single-season receptions (123), receiving yards (1,553), and touchdown catches (18) during a two-year stretch unrivaled in the team's 102 seasons.
But when Adams pushed his way out of town in March, the Packers had no choice but to hit the reset button at wide receiver. Some names from the recent past returned for another tour, namely dirty-work extraordinaire Allen Lazard and Rodgers confidant Randall Cobb. Tight end Robert Tonyan too signed on for another season.
However, outside additions would ultimately constitute the majority of the receiving corps. Veteran Sammy Watkins came aboard shortly before the draft. The other major pieces would come through the draft, with Gutekunst ultimately investing four draft picks into three prospects.
Throughout training camp, the Packers publicly discussed the need for patience with the rebuilt receiving room. The need for patience extended into the regular season, with Cobb, Lazard, and Watkins alternating as Rodgers' featured target in a mostly sputtering passing game. All the while, Adams continued to produce for his new team, the Las Vegas Raiders. At his current pace, he will finish the season with 110 receptions for 1,544 yards and 15 touchdowns.
But while the Packers' underwhelming win-loss record convinced many observers to tune out, their young wideouts began producing. Fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs delivered 232 receiving yards and three touchdowns during a six-game stretch before suffering a high-ankle sprain. Shortly thereafter, Christian Watson, the wideout for which Gutekunst traded two second-rounders to acquire, kicked off a seemingly unimaginable hot streak. Over a three-week stretch, the rookie produced 265 yards and a remarkable six touchdowns.
"He's totally transformed himself into a super-reliable big-play threat," Rodgers said of Watson following a four-catch, 110-yard, one-touchdown performance by the receiver on Sunday. "He's had six touchdowns in three games. Not a lot of guys have done that over my time. That definitely changes our offense."
This week, Watson earned Offensive Rookie of the Month honors. Around the same time, Doubs made his return to the practice field after missing three games. For the first time in a while, the Packers offense will have its two most promising young pass catchers on the field together for a regular-season game.
"I think it'll be huge," Watson said of Doubs' impending return. "We have a lot of guys in the wide-receiver room who I think have the capability and the talent to be out there and make plays. So, obviously, the more the merrier. And obviously, having seen Doubs' success earlier in the season, I'm going to be happy when he's back out there."
The Packers presumably share that enthusiasm. Doubs also offers field-tilting speed and has displayed a better understanding of route-running than most expected coming out of Nevada. Before Watson started taking the top off of defenses, Doubs operated successfully in that role.
Meanwhile, Watson possesses a nearly unrivaled combination of size and athleticism. At 6-foot-4 and with a Relative Athletic Score of 9.96 on a 10-point scale, his physical comps include current and future Hall of Famers Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones. Those gifts help explain how Watson has transformed the Packers offense in November.
"How quickly it's happened over this past month is the craziest part," Watson said of his sudden rise up the touchdown leaderboard. "But I'm just taking it one week at a time and putting in that work, putting in that preparation in everything I need to do. Whatever happens on Sunday happens, and obviously I'm thankful for the opportunities. I know I'm not always going to have six touchdowns every month. I think it was just a flash of what I'm able to do going forward. And like I said before, it's a boost of confidence for me."
Exactly what kinds of players Watson and Doubs will eventually develop into remains unclear. A strong start doesn't guarantee continued success even if both have high ceilings. Still, given the progress the duo has already made, it appears the Packers have a solid foundation for the receiving corps.
But for the Packers to recapture their high-flying identity of previous years, Watson and Doubs will probably need some assistance. That help could arrive in just a matter of months. What form that takes will become one of the central questions surrounding the team this offseason.
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