Saturday night marked the end of the three-day NFL draft in Detroit with a reported 700,000 fans in attendance.
For the second time in as many years, the Tigers had no players hear their names called. Before 2023, there was a nine-year streak of NFL Tigers being drafted.
Blake Watson, the creme of the crop when it comes to the Tigers draft prospects, did not hear his name called. Shortly after the draft ended on Saturday, Watson signed with the Denver Broncos on a deal that included a $25,000 signing bonus and $250,000 guaranteed.
What Watson Brings to Denver
Watson is an incredibly instinctive and patient runner with the short area quickness to match.
He’s a versatile chess piece with the ability to run the ball between the tackles, swing out for a screen pass or even line up in the slot. His lack of size creates problems as a runner.
He doesn’t break as many tackles as you’d want due to his lack of stature. The main reason he fell in the draft is the fact that he will be 25 during his rookie year. In the modern NFL, backs have short career lifespans causing teams to stray away from older prospects.
Watson’s small frame (5-foot-9, 195 pounds) is not something we haven’t seen before at Memphis. His measurables are nearly identical to Tiger legend Kenneth Gainwell’s. Call it low-hanging fruit, but that was my pro comparison for Watson.
In his only season as a Tiger, Watson racked up:
- 192 carries for 1,152 yards
- 53 catches for 480 yards
- 17 total touchdowns
Is Denver a Good Landing Spot?
Here’s how the 2024 NFL draft went for the Broncos:
If Watson can make the roster, here’s how I expect the depth chart at the running back position to shake out:
- Javonte Williams – Former second round pick for the Broncos. Injury in 2022 has taken away some of his explosiveness.
- Audric Estime – Fifth round pick in this year’s draft. A big powerback who will not be competing for third down reps.
- Blake Watson – He would have to beat out veteran RB Samaje Perine for this role but I think Watson’s youth and talent win out here.
With Watson’s receiving background, Bronco’s innovative head coach Sean Payton will find ways to get Watson on the field. This should be a great landing spot for Watson with him competing for a supplemental role as early as year one.
Rookie Year Stat Prediction: 75 attempts, 345 yards, 30 receptions, 255 yards.
