When Brett Veach signed WR Justin Watson to a two-year deal this offseason, many Kansas City Chiefs fans were left scratching their heads. During the preseason, they wanted him cut to make way for the shiny new toys at the wide receiver position. Now, everyone is finally realizing exactly why the team brought Watson back and why he's among the team's leaders in wide receiver snaps.
In Week 5 against the Minnesota Vikings, Watson completed his fourth consecutive game with a reception of 20 or more yards. He's the only player on the Chiefs' roster with such a streak and has become the consistent big-play threat in an offense that has really lacked that at the receiver position since Tyreek Hill's departure.
Watson caught two passes for a total of 56 yards on Sunday, both moving the sticks on a drive that ended in points. One was a toe-tapping grab on the sideline, but the most notable was a 33-yard reception on third-and-18, where Watson did his best Randy Moss impression over Vikings DB Cam Bynum.
"We were just talking about vertical jumps this week in the receiver room," Watson told reporters following the game. "Some guys were talking about who had the highest vertical and my name wasn’t mentioned in that one, so I'm glad to get that one on film. That we’re going up top. Take the elevator up to the penthouse and not everybody’s access card swipes that high."
Perhaps the most impressive part of the play from Watson is that it came on Cover 0 where Mahomes knew he had to get the ball out quickly due to pressure. Mahomes had the trust in Watson that he'd make a play and come down with the ball even though it was hardly a perfect throw.
"I’d rather it be that way," Watson said. "I want 15 (Patrick Mahomes) to know that he can put it up there and I’ll go up and make the play anytime he throws it my way. Whether it’s a perfect pass or not it’s perfect if it’s coming to 84 (Justin Watson), I want to make a play every time."
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy feels like the trust that Watson has developed with Mahomes over the past two seasons has allowed him to take that next step in the offense.
"I think for him, it's that trust element that him and Pat (Mahomes) have built over the last two years," Nagy said. "You know about his speed. Last year, we knew when he got here that this is a guy who can take the top off (a defense). This is a guy who has good hands. This is a guy who can run routes. But putting it all together in this system, in this offense, is the first part. Then, the next part is understanding how to mesh with Pat. He's to the point where yesterday in Cover 0, Pat just throws the ball up and trusts him to go up and make a play."
Nagy credited Mahomes and the rest of the coaching staff for fostering an environment where that type of relationship can grow and develop. He also said that it's not lost on the younger players in the receiver room. They're slowly but surely following a similar track to Watson, where they're marrying the complexities of the Chiefs' offensive scheme with earning the trust of the team's star quarterback.
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