Love-Watson Ranked Among Best New Quarterback-Receiver Duos

After a red-hot end to last season, can Christian Watson take the next steps in his career with new Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love?

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
May 26, 2023 12:52 PM EDT

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – As the Green Bay Packers’ four-time MVP quarterback, Aaron Rodgers made a living making average receivers look good, good receivers look great and great receivers look like Hall of Famers.

It’s a new era for the Packers, and a new quarterback-receiver dynamic. Jordan Love will need Christian Watson and the rest of the receivers to make him a success, and those receivers will need Love to help them reach max potential.

In a list of the NFL’s best new quarterback-receiver combinations by Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports, Watson and Love ranked seventh.

Watson was one of the NFL’s breakout stars during the second half of his rookie season. Starting with a three-touchdown masterpiece vs. Dallas in Game 10, Watson among receivers during the final eight games of the season ranked:

- First with seven touchdowns.

- Sixth with 16.9 yards per reception (among 65 receivers with at least 20 receptions).

- 16th with 523 receiving yards.

- 32nd with 31 receptions.

With just one start and 83 regular-season pass attempts on his resume, can Love take Watson to the next level?

“People need to understand that [Love] was learning and practicing and in the meeting rooms with a Hall of Fame quarterback each and every day,” Watson told Pro Football Focus recently. “He’s his own quarterback, but I’m sure he’s taken so many things from Aaron. We’ve seen a lot of flashes of what he can do. It’s only going to be put more on display. Everything we’ve seen so far is only going to be multiplied. We’re ready to go out there and ball. We have full confidence in him.”

That confidence needs to grow during the three weeks of OTAs and the June minicamp so the offense can start building during training camp.

“I think there’s a lot of energy out there,” Love said after Tuesday’s practice. “I’m excited to be out there with the guys, excited to be around these guys and just get a chance to get more reps and start building that chemistry with everybody.”

Rodgers and Jets receiver Garrett Wilson are No. 1 on the list. Chicago’s combination of quarterback Justin Fields and new receiver D.J. Moore rank fourth.