Standing at six-foot-six and weighing 464 pounds, defensive tackle Desmond Watson would have been the heaviest player ever drafted into the NFL but he went undrafted.
According to the Associated Press, Watson instead signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
It’s a true homecoming for Watson, who grew up just 20 minutes from Tampa in Plant City, Florida.
He spent four seasons playing college football at the University of Florida, impressively never missing a game. Watson has battled weight issues throughout his college career, arriving at Gainesville at 385 pounds and gradually increasing hitting 415 in his second year, 435 as a junior, and 449 last season. At his Pro Day, he tipped the scales at 464 pounds.
Despite the size, Watson showed serious strength, recording 36 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press more than any participant at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Tampa Bay already has a massive defensive tackle in Vita Vea, who weighs 347 pounds.
Interestingly, Watson has even seen a little action at fullback, recording a one-yard rushing attempt.
Nearly 40 years after William “The Refrigerator” Perry became a phenomenon for the 1985 Bears as a jumbo offensive weapon, Watson could get a similar shot maybe earning the nickname “The Walk-In Cooler.”
First, though, Watson will need to earn a spot on the Bucs’ final roster. He’ll get that opportunity soon in Tampa.
Be the first to comment