The Cincinnati Bengals are leaving no stone unturned. In doing so, they may have found a boulder who can provide tremendous upside with enough refinement.
Desmond Watson, a gargantuan, 464-pound defensive tackle from the University of Florida worked out for the Bengals last week. He said he is willing to do whatever it takes to get into shape and play for coach Zac Taylor.
Watson became a popular name after an impressive performance at Florida’s Pro Day on March 27. He ran a solid 40-yard dash for a man his size, a 25-inch vertical jump, and even broke records on the leg press. He is a big, but very strong man.
Most of the bigger defensive linemen sit at about 380 pounds. Watson would have to work to get there and it won't be easy. If the pounds didn't melt off in the Florida heat, the Bengals are going to have to get him in the exercise room. With special attention from the coaching and training staff, making an impact isn't out of the question.
Watson is willing to get into shape and take any direction coaches will give him. He can see himself wearing the Bengal stripes and is looking forward to the challenge.
“That’s not really a worry of mine, but at the same time I know… I guess the lighter I get, the more I can dominate,” Watson said on "Nightcap" with Shannon Sharpe. “I think losing weight definitely puts me in a better spot. I can play, but at the same time I want to do something if I get there, so I think being lighter will help me.”
This seems like a later-round idea and it seems like a project. But you can't teach being a 400-pound man. For Watson, that alone might be the start of something ... big.
