The Sconi

Christian Watson is ready for his close-up.

“Nothing is given everything is earned,” Watson recently said in an interview. The Green Bay Packers tabbed him in the second round of the recent NFL Draft with the number 34 pick overall.

“Regardless of if I was drafted No. 1 or 7th round, I'm going to have to earn the spot that I want day in and day out,” he added.

With the defending NFC North Division champs having filled 89 of their allotted 90 roster spots, Watson insists he’s wasted little time adjusting his game face, indicating he’s already spoken with MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Acme Packing Company reports the team recently moved to sign eight of their draft picks over a seven-day period and are now set to host a mini camp for a large roster of rookies for combined training, assessing, where that one final roster could be in play.

In total, 51 players are slated to attend the camp, including 11 draft picks, 14 free agents, 8 players on the roster but eligible for the camp and 18 tryout players.

The Packers quickly jumped at the chance to add take the 6-foot-4, 208-pound speedster out of North Dakota State to the mix, leaving Watson admittingly feeling a raised sense of responsibility for a team desperate to replace veteran wideouts Davante Adams and Marquez Vales-Scantling, both of whom departed over the offseason.

With Watson set to join a receiving corps that includes veterans Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins and fellow rookies Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure, Watson said Rodgers called to welcome him to the fold.

"It went well," Watson said of the conversation. "He wanted to make sure that I knew that he was looking out and that when he stepped in the building that it was time to work."

Over his career at North Dakota State, Watson earned the reputation of a big-play machine, snaring 105 passes for 2,140 yards (20.4 yards per reception) and 14 touchdowns in 52 games.

Watson feels things could be even better now, with Rodgers throwing passes in his direction.

"You're open every single play," he added. "Regardless of who's on you, Aaron's able to put it anywhere. Regardless of what you're doing, you're going to be open. You just have to go out there and make a play when he puts his trust in you."