The Pittsburgh Steelers have had their busiest and most productive free agency period in their storied history. Arguably, they have fixed the offensive line with young productive starters. They revamped the CB1 and CB2 positions without breaking the bank, signed a bona fide playmaking inside linebacker in Myles Jack, and got Mitch Trubisky, a former number 2 pick overall on a "prove it" deal at quarterback, who seems like a scheme fit in Matt Canada’s offense.
Strong safety, slot corner and wide receiver jump off the page as the remaining needs for the team. The Steelers could go best available player if a Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, or Nakobe Dean from the Georgia Bulldogs championship defense, but best available just might be a small school wide receiver from North Dakota State.
He may be from a small school, but Christian Watson is a big man. He is 6 foot 4 inches tall, 208 pounds with an impressive catch radius and oh yeah, did I mention he runs a 4.36 40-yard dash? For context, that is the same size, weight and 5 tenths of a second faster version of Martavis Bryant. Steeler Nation may cringe at the comparison to a player who broke the Steelers' heart, but while he was on the field, he undeniably was a force that elevated the Steeler offense. Unlike Martavis Bryant, Watson seems driven with a high football motor.
Christian Watson played sparingly for the 2018 FCS National Champion North Dakota State Bison, but he was a key member of two additional FCS National Champion Bison teams in 2019 and 2021. He is used to a winning culture and has a championship pedigree. He also has deep ties to the NFL. His father, Tazim Wajid Wajed (Tim Watson), a former Academic All-American at Howard University, struggled hard to have a five-year career in the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1993 who didn't make that team. He ended up playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles and he also spent time in the World League and Arena Leagues. His father’s small school struggles to carve out a career in the NFL should help Christian stay focused and grounded when he attempts to prove his elite measurables from the NFL Combine can translate into NFL stardom.
Watson improved every year at North Dakota State as a route runner. He has elite size and speed, but needs to continue to improve that skill, which is why he likely will be between the 4th and 6th wide receiver taken in the upcoming draft. Garrett Wilson, Drake London, Chris Olave, and Jameson Williams are all big school, high end commodities and all have their individual strengths, but they do not have Christian Watson’s size and speed. It's a rare combination that few have translated into long term NFL greatness. You may have heard of the 6 foot 4 inch small school phenom Randy Moss and the 6 foot 5 inch Calvin Johnson who came from the run first Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. It may be a little unfair to compare him to two of the greatest weapons the NFL has ever seen, but he is faster than Megatron and Moss also translated small school success to the NFL. However, if he ended up being Martavis Bryant or Plaxico Burress without the baggage while he plays in Pittsburgh, that would be a rare find indeed and a productive use of a first-round draft pick.
The Steelers will probably rely heavily on Najee Harris and RPO’s in 2022. But giving Mitch Trubisky two 6-foot 4-inch blazing speed wideouts on the outside with Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth working the middle of the field, could provide the one thing Trubisky never had in Chicago, multiple receivers running free in the secondary.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? On target or loco? Please comment below or follow me on Twitter or Instagram @thebubbasq.
