Eric Watts recalled watching NFL games on television and wondering what could be.
Would he ever be a pro football player? Did he have what it takes? What did he need to do to get there?
“Man, I wish I could play on Sundays,” Watts, while at the NFL Combine, recalled saying. “I hope I can make it.”
Watts is close to making that hope a reality. He showed what he can do as a star defensive end for UConn the past few years. And his tape and combine testing numbers have earned him NFL Draft consideration.
“And now this opportunity is in front of me,” Watts said. “It feels like it’s a dream, honestly.”
Eric Watts Draft Projection
I project Watts will be selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Teams like the Detroit Lions or the Buffalo Bills would be good fits.
“It’s been good, man. I haven’t been through anything like this at this level,” Watts said of his NFL Draft process. “The only thing I can kind of relate it to is it’s similar to being recruited again from high school, but you only get this opportunity once so you make the most of it.”
Eric Watts’ 40 Time And NFL Combine Performance
Watts ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 4.67 seconds, which was 12th among defensive ends there.
He fared well in other events. At 6-foot-6, 274 pounds, he was fifth in the three-cone drill (7.59 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.73 seconds). He was also seventh in the vertical (36.5 inches) and tied for eighth in the bench press (21 reps) while tying for 17th in the broad jump (9 feet, 9 inches).
“I’m blessed to have the opportunity,” Watts said. “I don’t even think it’s really set in with me yet. It still kind of feels unreal.”
Eric Watts’ Stats And Highlights
Watts was a stout defender over the past four years at UConn.
He racked up 34 tackles, 6.5 for loss, with two sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2023. After tallying 34 quarterback pressures on the season, he was on the All-Independent second team.
Among FBS EDGE rushers in this year’s draft class who played at least 207 snaps, Watts was 16th in Pro Football Focus’ grades for run defense.
The season before was statistically his best. He posted 49 tackles, 10 TFLs, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. He racked up 38 quarterback pressures as well.
In 2021, he recorded 39 tackles, six for loss, and a fumble recovery. The season before that, he had 30 tackles.
“My college career prepared me for adversity, a lot of adversity,” Watts said. “UConn isn’t one of the top programs, isn’t this big name that’s floating around everywhere. We’ve been to the bottom. We’ve been to the bottom of the bottom. And just knowing, once you hit that point, the only place you can go is up.”
Eric Watts’ NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I project Watts’ playing style in the NFL will be similar to Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints. They had similar numbers in some of their NFL Combine drills and both can pressure the quarterback as well as defend the run.
Watts is tough to move at the point of attack. He’s clearly strong and can collapse the pocket in a hurry.
When it comes to pass rushing, he does a good job of keeping his arms extended which makes it tough for offensive linemen to get their hands on him. While he could expand on his pass rush moves, his rip move was pretty effective in college.
Even when he doesn’t sack quarterbacks, he makes his presence known by pushing offensive linemen back. And against the run, he’s disciplined, as he maintains outside containment well.
Watts pointed out his tenaciousness at the NFL Combine as a strength of his, and it shows on tape. Even when plays are going away from him on the opposite side of the field, he’ll try to chase ball carriers down and sometimes succeeded.
Wherever he ends up, Watts has shown he can make an impact in the NFL in some way.
“I’m a team guy. I’ll do whatever for the team,” Watts said. “I’m relentless. I remember time on film of, the game is over, it’s the fourth quarter and we’re probably down two or three touchdowns or something like that, and my energy doesn’t change. I’m going like we’re down one point and this is the winning drive.
“That competitiveness, never giving up, relentlessness.”
