Desmond Watson’s goal is to be recognized for his skills on the field, not just his size. However, it’s hard to overlook that he’s the heaviest player in NFL history.
Watson, a 6-foot-6 defensive tackle from Florida, began his journey with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend during their rookie camp. He has already lost 25-30 pounds since weighing 464 pounds at the NFL scouting combine and intends to continue losing weight. Despite his size, Watson is focused on being known as a talented football player rather than being defined by his weight.
“It’s a good story, but I don’t want that to be my narrative,” Watson shared. “I want to be known as a football player and a good one at that. But I guess it’s nice to make history.”
The Buccaneers have enlisted the help of a team nutritionist, and while they haven’t settled on his ideal playing weight, Watson is committed to finding the best fit for his performance. “It’s still a work in progress,” he said. “We’re going to see where I play best, where I feel best at.”
Watson went undrafted last month but was signed by his hometown team as a free agent. He couldn’t hide his excitement when speaking with reporters. “I’m happy. It’s a dream come true. I can’t do anything but smile,” Watson said. “My life feels like a movie. You couldn’t write a script where a person goes from little league to high school to college (to the NFL) not having to go out of state.”
Growing up just 20 miles from Raymond James Stadium, Watson is still yet to see snow. He’s eager to learn from the Buccaneers’ star defensive tackle, Vita Vea, who weighs 346 pounds. Watson briefly met Vea and is eager to model his game after the two-time Pro Bowler, especially in stopping the run. “Being in position to have somebody you look up to and model your game after be a leader and vet at your position group, I feel like I’m blessed,” Watson said.
Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged Watson’s impressive size but emphasized that there’s still work to be done. “He looked just as impressive before as he does now, so he’s a huge man. He’s got a lot of size,” Bowles said. “He has to make the team, first of all. Right now, we just have to see how long he can stay on the field.”
Bowles also pointed out that Watson is still working on building endurance and becoming a more consistent player. “We didn’t get him for the tush push, we got him because we really thought he could play. It’s just a matter of getting him to the point where he can play more than two or three plays a (drive).”
Despite his size, Watson’s warm and likable personality has made him a fan favorite, with many rooting for him to make the team and contribute. “I’ve felt the love,” Watson said. “Mainly because it’s unheard of, I feel like people gravitate toward me. It’s been that way my whole life as far as just the energy I carry around. I do appreciate it.”
Watson impressed scouts at the combine with his physical strength, repping 225 pounds 36 times on the bench press, the best performance of any player this year. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 5.93 seconds and recorded a 25-inch vertical jump.
In his college career, Watson registered 63 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He even lined up as a fullback in a game against Tulane during the Gasparilla Bowl last December, carrying the ball for a 1-yard gain. “It was special,” Watson recalled. “A lot of my supporters were trying to get me and the coaching staff to do it. I was always against it, but I felt like to finish off my college career, I had to give people what they wanted to see.”
