What should the KC Chiefs do with Justin Watson?

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson’s 2022 season quickly went from good to downright awful. What should the Chiefs do with the struggling veteran?

When the Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent wide receiver Justin Watson this past offseason, it did not make much of a ripple. Watson was far from an impact offensive player during his four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He only had 23 catches and 258 receiving yards across 40 games with the team but stuck around as a core special teamer. That was his ceiling in Kansas City it seemed if he made the roster at all.

Watson quickly turned his preseason doubters wrong by not only making the team but being utilized on offense. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has targeted Watson every game this season, and his two touchdown receptions doubled his career number. His passing game usage steadily increased, especially with several injuries in the Chiefs’ wide receiver room. He had the most snaps amongst Chiefs wide receivers in Week 11 and 12 even. By his usage and production, Watson has obliterated his pre-training camp expectations. But, the wheels have rapidly fallen off the Watson wagon.

Watson’s usage has remained high, but his production has been nonexistent for the past three weeks. Watson has no receiving yards and three dropped passes on seven targets. He dropped a picture-perfect pass from Mahomes against the Houston Texans in Week 15. This past game against the Seahawks, where Watson had two drops, might have been the last straw for Watson in Kansas City.

The Chiefs shouldn’t just cut bait with Watson at this point of the year though. The playoffs are rapidly approaching and you cannot buy veteran experience. But, Watson needs some time lower on the wide receiver depth chart. Watson out-snapping other receivers were not a problem when he was producing. But, that should change now. Watson still brings value on the special teams’ side of the house though. He has experience on all four kicking units in 2022 and tied his season-high with 10 special teams snaps in Week 16. Watson replacing Skyy Moore as punt returner has been a welcome change for sure.

Overall, Watson had a good mid-season run as a contributing player on offense. After Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman return to full strength, Watson should be relegated to special teams only. Both Toney and Hardman are more dynamic players and don’t have nearly the dropped pass issues of Watson’s. There was once chatter about if the Chiefs should bring Watson back in 2023. Now, he looks more like the low-end free agent they signed months ago.