Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

Packers' Christian Watson opens up about time with Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has only good things to say about Aaron Rodgers even though the star quarterback appears headed to the New York Jets. 

"I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to play with him my rookie season and be able to pick his brain," Watson said of Rodgers during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show," as shared by Matt Audilet of The Spun. "My number one goal going into last year was just to pick the veterans' minds as much as possible. You never know when those guys are going to be done or when they’re gonna be gone so I just tried to learn as much as possible from him."

The Packers traded All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders last March and subsequently spent a second-round draft pick to land Watson. Watson understandably wasn't a superstar directly out of the gates, and it was later suggested that the first-year pro was among Green Bay players sometimes confused by the numerous hand signals Rodgers used during games. 

Watson indicated during his interview that Rodgers was an ideal mentor. 

"Whenever I had a question, whenever I had something in my mind even if it seemed like a dumb question, he was always open to answering that for me and giving me his mindset on that," Watson continued about Rodgers. "I think he helped me develop a lot. I think he helped me gain that confidence that I gained later in the year with his confidence in me."

The Packers are apparently ready to move on from Rodgers and start 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love, and Rodgers has made it known he intends to play for the Jets this coming season assuming the two clubs come to terms on a trade. 

"Us younger guys had meetings with Jordan Love weekly going into the later weeks of the season and we had quite a bit of younger guy developmental stuff that we did early in the season so we got reps in with him," Watson said about who is presumed to be his new QB1. "I think that relationship and that connection is strong already." 

In total, Watson ended his rookie season with 41 receptions for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. Love likely will need the 23-year-old to improve upon those numbers for Green Bay fans to not regret the massive decision made by those running the organization this offseason. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Cowboys make unsurprising move with Micah Parsons
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown shares warning after contract extension
Stars winger wins AHL Rookie of the Year
Caleb Williams hopes Bears draft ex-teammate with No. 9 pick
Nine-time NBA All-Star to re-sign with current club?
Tiger Woods' son falls short in improbable U.S. Open quest
Lions 'not close' on extension talks with QB Jared Goff
Analyst has shocking update on former three-time MLB Manager of the Year
London mayor eyeing Super Bowl bid, other hosting opportunities for major sporting events if re-elected
Rome Odunze raves about Michael Penix Jr. ahead of draft
Jimmy Butler trolls Celtics after Game 2 win: 'Don't let us get one'
Heat play 'Herro ball' to stun Celtics in Game 2
Lions extension makes Amon-Ra St. Brown the NFL's highest-paid receiver
Brad Marchand gets winner as Bruins beat Leafs to go up 2-1 in series
Reigning Cy Young winner's disastrous 2024 continues
Timberwolves C overcomes long odds, wins Sixth Man of the Year
Watch: Aaron Judge passes Derek Jeter on Yankees all-time home run list
Why it makes sense that the Steelers declined QB Justin Fields' fifth-year option
Heisman Trust's Reggie Bush decision another sign of NCAA's diminishing power
Peyton Manning rips Jets for failing QB Zach Wilson

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.