Are Justin Watson and Jody Fortson legitimate weapons for KC Chiefs?

Justin Watson

Justin Watson is entering his fifth season in the NFL and thus far has made his living as a special teams contributor. That’s why Watson’s signing with the Chiefs went relatively unnoticed when it happened back in February. Most fans, myself included, just assumed this was a camp body who’s only path to making the roster was as a Marcus Kemp-like special teams standout.

The first sign that we may have underestimated Watson’s ability to actually play wide receiver was the following quote from Patrick Mahomes:

"“Watson’s been a pleasant surprise. That dude can roll. He came down to Texas, and I threw with him the first day. I called Veach, and I was like, ‘How fast is this guy?’ He was running so fast and I was late on my throws.”"

I remember reading the quote at the time, but I still didn’t give Watson a chance to crack KC’s receiver rotation without an injury or two. There were just too many other options. I also assumed that if Watson was as good as Mahomes made him sound he would have accumulated more than just 23 career receptions in four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, when you factor in Watson’s transition from an Ivy League school, a couple of injuries, and the fact that guys like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski, and DeSean Jackson were all regulars in the passing game in Tampa during his time there and it becomes understandable why Watson may never have been given much of a chance.

In his four seasons in Tampa he only had six games where he played more than 20% of the offensive snaps, but in those six games he did put up 20 receptions for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns. So he did manage some production in the few games where he got onto the field. While his NFL production has been lacking thus far, that wasn’t the case at all for Watson in college.

Watson was one of the most prolific wide receivers in Ivy League history while at Penn. He finished his college career as Penn’s all time leader in career receptions (286), career receiving yards (3,777), career receiving touchdowns (33), career all purpose yards (4,116) and set single season school records for receptions (89), receiving yards (1,115), and receiving touchdowns (14). He also set Ivy League records for career 100 yard games (19), consecutive games with a touchdown (10), and consecutive games with a reception (40).

So Watson had a wildly prolific college career and then spent his first four seasons in the NFL in Tampa Bay playing special teams behind a pretty loaded wide receiver group. When I was at training camp Watson was clearly someone Mahomes trusted and was quick to target if he was open and his seven receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in the first two preseason games show that has continued into game situations as well. Am I saying that I think Watson is going to break into the starting lineup and replace any of KC’s bigger name wideouts? No, but I am saying that he may very well be good enough to warrant being part of the receiver rotation.

Again, this isn’t about Watson being able to beat #1 corners. It’s about him being able to exploit 3rd corners or safeties if the defense keys in on KC’s bigger names. Watson has enough size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and enough speed (he ran a 4.44 forty at his pro day) that he can exploit mismatches in coverage.

Speaking of mismatches in coverage, it’s time to talk about Jody Fortson.