They say that “iron sharpens iron.” I don’t know if that’s true; I’m not a blacksmith. But it is safe to say that there is no better way to develop your skills in training camp than by facing off against your team’s best players.
NFL teams won’t go at it 100% until Week 1, even with pads on. Until then, the best gauge is to see how you compare your best teammates.
For the Green Bay Packers, this leads to one of the most fascinating camp battles: wide receiver Christian Watson and cornerback Eric Stokes. Arguably the two fastest players on the team, both men want to bounce back from the “injury-prone” allegations and take the next steps in their careers.
By competing against each other in training camp, Watson and Stokes can test their best traits in an admirable matchup and grow as players.
Despite their differences in positions, play styles, and circumstances, Watson and Stokes share a lot in common. They were early draft picks. The Packers took Stokes 29th overall in 2021, while they traded up to take Watson early in the second round in 2022.
Watson and Stokes are athletically gifted players with speed who pundits considered a bit raw when the Packers drafted them. Watson’s RAS was 9.96, 12th all-time for wide receivers, while Stokes had a 9.37 score.
Consider this:
Watson is an alien. A freak. Not from around here. Whatever hyperbolic term you want to use for a 6’4”, 208 lb. athlete who runs, nay, glides past defenders like they’re running in mud. He’s the ultimate height/weight/speed candidate for an NFL team. — 2022 Cheesehead TV Draft Guide contributor Ross Uglem on Watson.
And this:
Eric Stokes is a fast, athletic corner whose game is built around pure speed and acceleration. Stokes is blazing fast; both his long speed and short area burst allow him to cover lots of ground and make plays on the ball — 2021 Cheesehead TV Draft Guide contributor Andy Herman on Stokes.
Unfortunately, Watson and Stokes have also had injury concerns that negatively impacted their speed.
Stokes played a full slate of games in 2021, becoming a starter early thanks to injuries elsewhere on the roster. He turned that opportunity into an impressive rookie season. Stokes finished with a solid 66.3 PFF score and looked to have a bright future.
However, Stokes had a down year in 2022, playing only nine games before suffering a season-ending injury. The injury crept into the 2023 season, where he started on the PUP list. Between the lingering ankle injury and subsequent hamstring issues, Stokes played only three games in 2023, and it was clear he wasn’t entirely himself.
Watson had similar injury problems in his two seasons in Green Bay. A minor knee injury caused him to miss most of his rookie training camp. Although he played in 14 games, it took time for Watson to become a focal point of the offense, breaking out against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 and becoming a significant part of the game plan after that.
He looked to build on that strong rookie season but missed the first three games with a hamstring injury. Watson didn’t look like he was at full speed in the games we saw, and he was sidelined after Week 13. However, he returned for the playoffs.
The team sought answers on their susceptibility to soft tissue injuries and returned them to the lineup with new knowledge and a desire to play full-time. Having faced similar issues and having comparable skills, getting to practice against each other is a boon.
Stokes struggled in his limited games the past two seasons, unable to utilize his greatest asset. With him apparently back at full speed, Watson is the ideal opponent. Stokes is one of the few players capable of running step-for-step with Watson and is the team’s best hope against the league’s fastest receivers. The battle allows him to use his best skill to his advantage while improving his other areas.
Watson is a massive, speedy receiver who didn’t always play like one last season. He needs to work on contested catches and playing to his size. Having a cornerback who can keep up with him means that Watson will have to rely more on speed, which should help him better fight for the ball.
Not only does having the two fastest guys on the team work against each other mean they can get back to full speed, but having a similarly fast rival will allow them to better polish the areas of their game they need to improve.
We’ve already seen the two compete in training camp in play situations and one-on-ones. Watson got the edge in one-on-ones, but Stokes has kept up with Watson in practice and even intercepted a pick thrown his way. The battle between the two should only get more fierce with the pads on.
Watson and Stokes are expected to be starters and vital contributors this season. On such a young team, there are only so many “veterans.” With both on the back end of their rookie contracts, this is a big show-up year for both players. Honing their skills against each other in a high-speed affair is the best way to prepare for the season.
