The Bucs have a need at wide receiver this offseason. No one on the current roster has stepping into the No. 3 wide receiver role, so the team will be searching the 2022 class for more help. There were some interesting candidates at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama this week. While names like Nevada’s Romeo Doubs, South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert and Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce were the headliners, North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson stole the show.

Watson’s size was the initial draw. The NFL draft prospect is listed at 6-foot-4, 211 pounds. Don’t let the big frame fool you. The kid has wheels.

Watson was one of the top five speeds clocked at the Senior Bowl National team practice, hitting 20.71 mph. After looking further into his game, this comes as no surprise. The Bison receiver is a Plant High School alum from Tampa that ran track and played football.

That was just the beginning. Watson showed athleticism and versatility in college. The Bison star has 2,140 career receiving yards, 392 career rushing yards and 686 career kick return yards. Furthermore, the multi-purpose threat left his mark at NDSU with 57 plays that went 20-plus yards on 180 career rushing, receiving and return attempts. Basically, once every third touch, Watson was making a splash play. Ridiculous stuff. He ranks No. 4 in North Dakota State history, averaging 20.4 yards per reception and 26.4 yards per kickoff return.

The three-year starter can play outside, in the slot and even in the backfield. From start to finish, his Senior Bowl showing was consistent. Explosive start off the line, ability to beat defenders, quick acceleration, clean routes and a stride that effortlessly gets him down the field. He’s also an excellent blocker from his time in the run-heavy Bison offense.

It’s clear to see why the Bucs have interviewed Watson and why he may be on their draft radar. The Draft Network caught up with Watson during Wednesday’s media session.  The potential Bucs’ target even said he models his game after Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans. Two big frame guys with size and speed. That’s a solid comparison, although Watson could be more versatile than Evans.

Other top receiver prospects that performed well were Tennessee’s Velus Jones Jr., Tolbert, and Doubs. Yet none of those players had the consistency that Watson did.

Jones has great speed and can quickly adjust to the ball in the air, but dropped a lot of passes. Tolbert was slightly underwhelming for all the conversations that revolved around his name. The Mobile native’s speed is questionable and he measured in at 6-foot-1 instead of his previously listed height at 6-foot-3. Doubs struggled with executing clean routes and catching the ball.

Weather conditions and an average quarterback class considered, there’s still more to be seen from these guys. Could Day 3 be a step up for the entire receiving group? Or will Watson win the week and leave Mobile with his stock on the rise. And, perhaps, firmly planted on the Bucs’ radar?