Breaking down Packers’ aggressive trade up to get WR Christian Watson

The Green Bay Packers sent both second-round picks to the Minnesota Vikings to move up 19 spots and select receiver Christian Watson with the second pick of the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

The move up the board was a costly one for the Packers.

The trade details: The Packers sent the No. 53 overall pick and No. 59 overall pick to the Vikings for the No. 34 overall pick.

According to the Rich Hill model, the Packers gave up 197 points of value (No. 53: 106 points, No. 59: 91 points) to get the 34th pick, which is worth 175 points. The difference is 22 points, which is worth roughly a mid-fourth-round pick.

According to the Jimmy Johnson model, the Packers gave up 680 points of value (No. 53: 370 points, No. 59: 310 points) to get the 34th pick, which is worth 560 points. The difference is 120 points, which is worth roughly a late third-round pick.

According to the Fitzgerald-Spielberger model, the Packers gave up 1,922 points of value (No. 53: 988 points, No. 59: 934 points) to get the 34th pick, the Packers gave up which is worth 1,213 points. The difference is 709 points, which is worth roughly a late third-round pick.

The Packers attempted to move up to No. 32 overall in the first round to get Watson on Thursday night but were unable to get a deal done. The move up was completed to start Friday, but the Packers had a pay a big price to get it done.

The Packers aren’t worried about what was given up value-wise because they like the player so much.

“A pick is just a pick until it becomes a player,” Packers director of football operations Milt Hendrickson said. “From that standpoint, if you love the player, you find the way to get him.”

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Green Bay Packers 2022 NFL draft tracker: Pick-by-pick analysis