Jaylen Watson

Jaylen Watson (born September 17, 1998) is an American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ventura College before transferring to the Washington State Cougars. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Not to be confused with Jalen Watson.
Jaylen Watson
refer to caption
Watson with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022
No. 35 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1998-09-17) September 17, 1998
Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Laney (Augusta, Georgia)
College:
NFL Draft:2022 / Round: 7 / Pick: 243
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Total tackles:52
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Pass deflections:8
Interceptions:3
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Watson grew up in Augusta, Georgia and attended Lucy Craft Laney High School as well as Curtis Baptist High School.[1][2]

College career

Watson began his college career at Ventura College. As a sophomore, he recorded 43 tackles with 13 pass breakups, four interceptions, and one fumble recovery.[3] Watson initially committed to transfer to USC, but did not qualify academically to enroll at the school. He did not play in 2019 and returned to Augusta, where he worked at a local Wendy's restaurant that was managed by his mother while also completing his coursework.[4] Watson later signed to transfer to play at Washington State.[5]

Watson became an immediate starter at cornerback for the Washington State Cougars and was named honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference after recording 13 tackles, two passes broken up, a forced fumble and one recovered fumble in three games during the team's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.[6] He repeated as an honorable mention All-Pac 12 selection in his final season.[7]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)		 197 lb
(89 kg)		 32+1⁄4 in
(0.82 m)		 9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.49 s1.60 s2.60 s4.22 s7.15 s38.0 in
(0.97 m)		11 ft 0 in
(3.35 m)		18 reps
Sources:[8][9]

Watson was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round, 243rd overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft.[10]

Watson recorded his first career interception and touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. The pick was returned 99 yards for a touchdown.[11] For his performance, he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[12] In the playoffs, Watson intercepted both Trevor Lawrence in the AFC Divisional Round and Joe Burrow in the AFC Championship Game. Watson helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVII. In the Super Bowl, Watson recorded three tackles in Chiefs 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.[13]

References
  1. Robertson, Brendan (August 31, 2022). "Laney's Jaylen Watson is latest local player to make a 53-man NFL roster". WJBF. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  2. Lee, David (August 23, 2015). "New-look Curtis Baptist hoping to clear hurdle, claim title". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  3. Young, Ryan (January 27, 2019). "TrojanSports - USC lands commitment from intriguing JUCO CB Jaylen Watson". usc.rivals.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  4. Farmer, Sam (September 15, 2022). "From Wendy's to NFL: Jaylen Watson smokes Chargers in Chiefs' win". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  5. Lawson, Theo (June 26, 2020). "Former USC signee, 2020 recruit Jaylen Watson commits to Washington State". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  6. Lawson, Theo (August 10, 2021). "Jaylen Watson made history by choosing the No. 0 in 2020. Here's what Washington State's lockdown CB hopes to do wearing it in 2021". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  7. Stovall, Gabriel (April 25, 2022). "How a minimum wage fast food job reignited this Augusta-area NFL Draft prospect's hopes". The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  8. "Jaylen Watson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  9. "2022 Draft Scout Jaylen Watson, Washington State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  10. "2022 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  11. Howorth, Alasdair (September 16, 2022). "Rookie Jaylen Watson steals the show as the Kansas City Chiefs edge out the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 on Thursday Night Football". CNN.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  12. Gordon, Grant (September 21, 2022). "Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  13. "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.


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