Grading every KC Chiefs 2022 rookie at the bye week
Jaylen Watson, Cornerback (Round 7, Pick 243)
When rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie was placed on injured reserve after Week 1 due to his hamstring injury, fellow rookie Jaylen Watson was tabbed as the next man by the coaching staff, despite being selected in the seventh round. Immediately following the 2022 NFL Draft, not many Chiefs fans would have tabbed Watson as the first non-first-round rookie to earn a start this season. In his first start in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers, he had the play of the game as he picked off quarterback Justin Herbert and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to make a 24-17 game. One can argue that play alone made Watson worth the 243rd overall pick in the draft and it’s hard to disagree as it was such a critical moment in an important game despite it being early in the season.
It’s also been a tale of two different halves so far in 2022 for Jaylen Watson. In Weeks 1 through 3, in 105 coverage snaps, he allowed 9 catches on 19 targets for 87 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, a passer rating against of 56.3, and 0.83 yards allowed per coverage snap. Since Week 3, in 172 coverage snaps, he’s allowed 18 catches on 24 targets for 197 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, a passer rating against of 126.6, and 1.15 yards allowed per coverage snap. Yes, Watson indeed had to go against Josh Allen and Tom Brady in that stretch, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s been picked on more in recent weeks than early in the season.
Despite the recent slump, Jaylen Watson has proved to be more than worthy of the seventh-round pick that was used on him back in April. He may not be a high-level starter in the NFL but Brett Veach and Co. appeared to have gotten a good one in Watson.
Grade: A
Isiah Pacheco, Running Back (Round 7, Pick 251)
No rookie on the Kansas City Chiefs was a bigger story throughout training camp this year than running back Isiah Pacheco. The hype surrounding him over the month of August was off the charts at certain times, with some believing he could overtake Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the Chiefs’ starting back to open the season. While he has usurped Ronald Jones on the depth chart, he hasn’t quite passed CEH as the starting running back. Although he technically was the starter in Week 7 against San Francisco, he only had 8 carries for 43 yards the entire game.
Through seven weeks, Isiah Pacheco has 39 carries for 192 yards, one touchdown, and a respectable 4.9 yards per carry. He’s also returned 17 kickoffs this season for a total of 376 yards. Even though he hasn’t quite cemented himself as a player who will see consistent playing time, he’s proven that he can play in the NFL. He might not be the true starting running back for this franchise today but that could change soon. He has the size and speed that CEH doesn’t and could prove in the future to be one of the offensive steals of the 2022 NFL Draft. He hasn’t played enough to be considered a home run pick but he’s a stand-up double as of today.
Grade: B+