Waston’s return provides depth and sets the Chiefs draft approach
The Chiefs re-signed one of their main offensive contributors wide receiver Justin Watson on a two-year contract Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The two-time world champion Watson put together a career-best 15 catches for 315 yards and 2 receiving TDs on 34 targets across 17 regular-season appearances in 2022, his first year paired with MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes helping the team win Super Bowl LVII recording 2 catches for 18 yards. Now back with the Chiefs on a two-year deal, Watson figures to reprise his role as a rotational deep threat option. Watson has grown significantly in his five years as a professional and in year one with the Chiefs, it earned him an extension.
The Chiefs now have Watson, MVS, Toney, Moore, James, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Justyn Ross and Cornell Powell at receiver. It doesn’t rule out the team from pursing a receiver with their first three picks in the top 100 like SMU’s Rashee Rice, Tennessee’s Cedric Tillman, Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson or Mississippi’s (Ole Miss) Jonathan Mingo.
Watson (6-3, 215) has played in 57 games (9 starts) in five NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2022) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018-21). His career numbers include 38 catches for 573 yards (15.1 avg.) with 4 touchdowns. With the Buccaneers, Watson played in 40 games recording 23 receptions for 258 yards (11.2 avg.) with 2 touchdowns and helping the Buccaneers defeat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. He originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick (144th overall) of the Buccaneers in the 2018 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Pennsylvania.
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