Getty Images
The biggest stories around the NFL this week were rookies signing deals and participating in minicamps, but none were bigger (literally) than Desmond Watson’s signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The defensive tackle out of Florida signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent, and at 464 pounds (as he weighed in at Florida’s Pro Day) he became the heaviest player in NFL history. Watson’s size has been a story ever since he was with the Gators, but he proved there to be a disruptive force in the middle of the line and not just some novelty act.
2025 NFL schedule release: 10 must-see matchups this season, including Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl LIX rematch
Jeff Kerr
As he moves to the NFL, he knows he will deal with another round of weight discourse, headlines and memes as NFL fans get introduced to him. But having gone through that once at Florida, he’s prepared for all that comes with it. As he explained to Buccaneers.com, his focus is on becoming known for what he does on the field, not the number that pops up on the scale.
“I feel like my name is etched in history, of course, as the official heaviest player in the NFL, or whatnot,” Watson said. “It’s a good story; at the same time I don’t want it to be my narrative. I want to be known as a football player, and a good football player at that. But it’s nice to be able to make history…I guess again because I did it in college, too. It’s nice to be able to make history but all in all, I am a football player and I want to be known as a good one….
..
