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Chiefs' wide receiver depth takes a hit as Justin Watson leaves Kansas City to join AFC South rival in 2025 NFL free agency

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Charles Goldman | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 8:50 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver depth has taken a hit during the NFL's legal tampering period before the 2025 free agency period.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says the Houston Texans have poached Chiefs WR Justin Watson. A former fifth-round pick out of Penn by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2018 NFL draft, the speedy Watson will join his third career NFL team and second team in the AFC.

The Texans are plenty familiar with Watson as they faced him twice during the 2024 NFL season, once in the regular season and once in the playoffs. He recorded one target and no receptions in those games.

Another #Texans signing: Houston is adding #Chiefs FA WR Justin Watson, sources say, as the Penn graduate and former #Bucs WR lands in a new home.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2025

The 28-year-old wideout previously signed a one-year deal worth just over $1 million with the Chiefs back in 2022, becoming a crucial role player on offense and special teams. It’d lead to him signing a two-year extension worth $3.4 million in 2023.

In his three-year stretch in Kansas City, Watson recorded more targets (119), receptions (64), yards (1064), and touchdowns (7) than in his previous four years combined in the NFL at Tampa Bay. He came to play in some very big moments for the Chiefs, so his contributions will be thoroughly appreciated and remembered throughout the Chiefs Kingdom. He’ll exit Kansas City as a two-time Super Bowl champion in Super Bowl LVII and LVIII.

Watson is the second of the Chiefs' free agents expected to sign with a new team since the NFL's legal tampering period began. Surprisingly, the top-billed free agents for Kansas City have yet to find new homes in the 2025 NFL free agency period. You can check all the moves from the day and leading up to Monday below.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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