Steelers predicted to acquire oft-injured Christian Watson in trade with Packers

The Pittsburgh Steelers need a wide receiver, and the Green Bay Packers have multiple players they could opt to part ways with before the regular season.

Making the Packers an even better trade partner for the Steelers is the fact that the team still has some wide receivers who played with Aaron Rodgers, and we know Rodgers loves to throw to guys he already knows.

One of those wide receivers is Christian Watson, who CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin predicts could end up with the Steelers via trade with Green Bay.

"Watson may well be the most gifted player in the Packers' wide receiver room, but there's a reason Green Bay spent two early draft picks at the position this April; the 26-year-old veteran has missed multiple games due to injury in each of his first three NFL seasons, giving the Pack a true boom-or-bust experience on the perimeter," the CBS Sports writer said. "With both Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in line for significant roles as rookies, might the Packers be willing to sell Watson as he recovers from an ACL tear? Rodgers might have to wait until later in 2025 to reunite with the speedster as a result, but the potential for late-season fireworks might make the gamble worthwhile."

The Packers have quite the crowded wide receivers room, which has led many to believe the team could part with at least one of them.

Along with incumbents like Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, the Packers added first-round pick Matthew Golden and third-round pick Savion Williams in the draft.

Watson has no doubt shown a ton of promise when on the field, but his availability has been a problem. Watson missed three games in his rookie season, eight in 2023, and then only two in 2024, although his campaign ended because of a torn ACL.

The Steelers acquiring Watson would be a risky proposition for several reasons, and most of them have to do with injury. 

Not only can Watson not be relied upon to stay healthy in general, he's not likely to even be ready for the start of the season after suffering his ACL injury in the Packers' 2024 regular season finale.

Unless the price is astronomically low, which is possible considering Watson's injury history and contract situation (he's a free agent in 2026), Pittsburgh should not look to acquire Watson before he's fully healthy and back on the field.

We would much rather see the Steelers pay more for Romeo Doubs, who is in the same contract situation but doesn't have anywhere near the same injury concern.