From Headlines to Hard Work
It’s nice to make headlines as an undrafted free agent, but Desmond Watson is hoping the reasons for them change before long. The heaviest player in NFL history is aiming to earn a roster spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and improve his narrative along the way.
“It’s a good story, but I don’t want that to be my narrative,” Watson said Saturday, via the Associated Press. “I want to be known as a football player and a good football player at that. But I guess it’s nice to make history.”
Weight Loss and Progress
By weighing in at 464 pounds at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Watson instantly stood out among other prospects on a spreadsheet. He’s already lost 20-plus pounds since the combine and continues to evaluate how he feels as he and the Buccaneers determine his proper playing weight, explaining it as “a work in progress.”
Learning from the Best
The Tampa-area product has described his time with the hometown Buccaneers as “a dream come true.”
In terms of guidance, a better situation may not have existed anywhere else in the NFL for Watson, who will receive an opportunity to learn from Vita Vea. “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.
The Challenge Ahead
In order to maximize such an opportunity, Watson will have to give the most effort possible even if it’s only to buy him more time. In this business patience is a privilege not afforded to most players, especially not those who arrived as undrafted free agents.
The pressure is on, but the Buccaneers are hoping Watson’s conditioning and nutrition efforts unlock a new level to his game.
Coach Bowles’ Perspective
“He looked just as impressive before as he does now, so he’s a huge man. He’s got a lot of size,” head coach Todd 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 and [we] put him on a program where we think he can make some progress.”
“I think that’s the biggest thing for us to do, right now. We didn’t get him to say, ‘Hey, we have to put you on the field right now.’ It’s, ‘Hey, we can try to put you on this program and see what we can come up with and see if we can get our endurance better,’ and have him become a better player that way, then kind of see where he is.”
“To judge him right now is very early and 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].”
A Summer to Prove Himself
Availability is one of the most important elements to carving out a career in the NFL. For Watson, the goal has been explicitly stated. He’ll have the summer to achieve it.
