Wide Receiver Series – Short Brief(s): #9 Justin Watson (At home with Mahomes)

David Bell

He Thus Stated his Case in Pre-Season (Cover Photo above)!

Justin Watson spent four years with the Bucaneers before signing as a Future/Reserve player with the Chiefs in 2022. In 2022, he spent time in Texas working with Patrick Mahomes to gain familiarity and get his timing down. In training camp and pre-season, Watson showed he was on the same page as PMII and he made the roster as 1 of 6 WRs. The benefit was obvious and produced results.

Watson appeared in 17 games last season and started 5 of those games, yielding 15 receptions, 315 yards–averaging 17 yards per catch, and scoring 2 TDs. He also had a remarkable long reception that went for 67 yards. He was not one of the top 3 WRs nor was he intended to be such a designee when he arrived. As a “Contributor” he played extremely well. He also fielded punts on Special Teams, 5 for an average of 7.8 yards per punt. In post season play, Watson was targeted once in the Jacksonville game and recorded a catch (12 Yards) and in the Super Bowl he was targeted twice and had two catches (18 yards). For the AFC Championship game, Justin was inactive vs. the Bengals.

With an established rapport with the Chiefs future HoF QB, Watson will be a contender to make the final 53-man roster. As I have shown in previous Short-Briefs, there will be fierce competion among players of the WR Corps. What I think will happen is 6 WRs make the final roster and 2 will end up on the early IR. It turn out that 2 will also be placed on the PS. This group of WRs is talented and very deep. Watson has bona fides with the Chiefs as a contributor. We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold in training camp and Pre-Season games.

Here is a short video collection of Watson receptions in 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92KtTlAKlNA

What More Can I Add?

When Watson showed up for offseason workouts in Texas, Mahomes was impressed. Watson continued to surprise the Coaching staff in St. Joe with strong showings. Then his Pre-Season games were a convincing factor. You must also like that Watson is 6’2″ and that shows up in his ability to make catches thrown high. When Patrick Mahomes was asked about who impressed him out of the new WR crew last summer, he named Watson and said of him: ““Watson has been a pleasant surprise. That dude can roll. I remember he came down to Texas and I threw with him the first day. I called (Brett) Veach and I was like, “Wait, how fast is this guy? Because he was running so fast that I was late on my throws. So he’s got out here these first two days and had two great days.”

.

Watson Catch vs. 49ers – Photo by Thearon W. Henderson-Getty Image

.

2023 and 2024 Cost Outlook for Watson

Watson’s 2023 salary is the NFL minimum of $1,080,000, plus a $300,000 signing bonus and a workout bonus of $20,000. The salary is guaranteed, bringing his total guaranteed money to $1,380,000 — and makes his 2023 cap hit $1,250,000. That’s $150,000 less than we expected (Arrowhead Pride Article).

In 2024, his base salary will be $1.47 million, with a $30,000 per-game roster bonus (totaling $510,000) and another $20,000 workout bonus. That brings his cap hit next season to $2.15 million. None of it is guaranteed — and if released, Watson will leave only $150,000 in dead money against the cap (AP Article).

.

Watson has an infectious smile! – Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

.

$ – Salary numbers from Spotrac

As I noted, it’s going to be a very competitive Training Camp for the WR Corps. The question becomes whom among all the WRs impresses Mahomes, Andy Reid, Matt Nagy, and WR Coach Embree. No Matter who it is that arises out of the group, it will be fun to watch it play out. Note: Watson is 6-2,  215 lbs. and played college ball at Penn St. He was drafted in the 5th round by Tampa Bay.

.

David Bell — ArrowheadOne

.

.

.