DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2024 NFL Season 2024 NFL Draft Pick 206 6th Rd Nathaniel Watson Lb Miss St

Two down thumper who can blitz. Poor in pass coverage according to ESPN.

and I'd expect him to be integral on the new STs kickoffs

j/c...

From Dane Brugler:

STRENGTHS: Outstanding height-weight-speed athlete … has initial burst and fluidity to accelerate quickly to the ball … shows the functional range to make plays
outside the numbers at either sideline … quick to read from depth and work around the trash … zeroes on t he ball carrier and runs his feet on contact … tackling
discipline improved each season, and his missed tackles declined each season … some of his best tape comes from shooting gaps and finding vulnerable spots on the
offensive line (led the SEC in sacks in 2023) … extensive special teams experience (576), mostly on kick coverages … highly productive, and Watson and Jett Johnson
became the first pair of teammates to finish first and second in tackles in the SEC in back -to-back years … finished his career starting 35 straight games.

WEAKNESSES: His lateral agility is more average than above average … aggressive flow opens the door for cutback opportunities for ball carriers … takes the cheese
on misdirection and play fakes … will attack climbing blocks, but his disengage strength is ordinary … l ate to turn and find the football in coverage, giving backs or
tight ends the chance to separate … allows his emotions to get the best of him at times (threw a punch on the 2022 Memphis tape; missed a game in high school after
punching the ground and requiring surgery to repair the resulting fracture) … off-field decision-making will be scrutinized by NFL teams — arrested on suspicion of
driving under the influence (May 2023); arrested during his final semester of high school and charged with felony first-degree assault and traffic violations (February
2018), after his drag racing resulted in property damage and injuries to the passenger in his car … younger for his grade, but will be a 24-year-old NFL rookie.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Mississippi State, Watson was the Mike linebacker in former head coach Zach Arnett’s 3 -3-5 base scheme. After finishing No. 2 in
the SEC in tackles in 2022, he led the SEC with 137 tackles in 2023 and his 11.4 tackles per game ranked sixth-best in the FBS, earning him SEC Defensive Player of the
Year honors from the Associated Press. With his first-step burst and tracking skills, “Bookie” Watson was a tackling machine in college, including a 21 -tackle
performance vs. Southern Miss in 2023 (most by an SEC player in a game over the last five years). His versatility as a blitzer is a plus, although he can st ruggle opening
up and making plays in coverage. Overall, Watson’s average agility and erratic instincts lead to inconsistencies, but he has size, quick reaction speed and tackling skills to fill up the stat sheet. He will need to shine on special teams to lock up a backup role for an NFL defense.

Those are the guys you are looking for at this point. He has some baggage that holds him down but also shows up on the stat sheet. Ole Miss is a good team in a strong conference. Bring him in for a look in camp and see what it brings. Not much risk if it doesn't work and a big upside if it does.

Takitaki replacement at SAM