Ryan Watts, CB, Texas
Size:
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 208 pounds
Arm Length: 34 1/2"
Hand Size: 9 3/8"
Accomplishments:
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (2022)
“Ryan Watts possesses the ideal length and athleticism to develop into a starting-caliber zone corner in the NFL.”
Strengths:
Length/size
Fluid movements
Competitive at the catch point
Concerns:
Inconsistent technique
Best reps in zone defense
Ball production
Film Analysis:
Ryan Watts originally started his career at Ohio State before transferring to Texas. At Texas, Watts proved to be a reliable and productive corner who made plays in both pass coverage and the run game, using his size and fluid movements to make plays.
In pass coverage, Watts' best reps came in zone, where he appeared to check the length, height, and athletic thresholds to stay in phase with receivers and disrupt their ability to catch the ball. Watts does a good job of tracking deep balls and utilizes his length at the last second to break passes up. Watts is versatile pre-snap in that he can play both press or off-coverage and seems to tempo himself well in both situations in zone coverage.
Watts' athletic profile shows to be adequate enough to handle man-to-man coverage in spurts. Watts has the fluid hips to mirror and match receivers in and out of breaks. There is a limit to Watts' ability to consistently do this at a high level and quicker shiftier receivers can separate from him running routes. Watts would be best served as a matchup player who locks onto receivers who have similar size or athletic profiles in man-to-man situations.
Against the run, Watts is a willing and effective tackler. He can trigger from depth and play downhill to make the tackles. Due to his size, Watts is a player who, based on formation, can also play some safety and will still do an adequate job of tackling
Will Watts profile as mostly a zone corner or will he be able to improve the consistency and technique to be able to play man-to-man at a high percentage? Watts also needs to improve his effort. There are plays where Watts looks to be dialed in and makes high-level plays then there are moments where it appears he lacks attention and consistent focus, which results in him giving up a play that he is more than capable of preventing.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Alabama (2023), Baylor (2023), Kansas State (2023), Washington (2023)
