Desmond Watson Hurdle Doesn’t Sound Too Large
May 22nd, 2025
Todd Bowles talks about his giant Gator, undrafted defensive tackle Desmond Watson.
First he was 464 pounds seven weeks ago at the Florida Gators pro day, and then weight started to come off and the smile came out with a new Buccaneers contract in hand.
Buccaneers rookie defensive tackle Desmond Watson has been with the team four weeks and it sounds like head coach Todd Bowles is intrigued.
Speaking today on WFLA-TV’s Rooted In Progress show, Bowles sounded like Watson doesn’t have a uniquely mammoth task to make the Tampa Bay roster.
“We saw the potential, because he can come off the ball,” Bowles said. “It’s just a matter of getting him in a little better shape and understanding and giving him a chance to compete once summer camp comes. He’s a bigger man than Vita [Vea]; we understand that. But he’s a good player. You know, he’s athletic for his size and everything else. He wants to be known as a football player and we want him to make the team as a football player.”
Some might think the elephant in the room for Watson is the reality of a 400-something pound man taking on Bucs training camp in the July swelter.
Not a concern, says Bowles.
He noted how Watson played high school ball in Tampa (Armwood) and was successful with the Gators. Bowles almost sounded like he’s more worried about non-Florida rookies than he is Watson, who he says is progressing. “Obviously, he’s in better shape,” Bowles said.
Joe was intrigued to hear Bowles’ tone when he said Watson “can come off the ball.” If his get-off is is true NFL caliber, then that almost makes Watson a high-level run stuffer before he ever takes a snap on Sundays.
It’s going to be fun to see future mattress-mover guards on NFL teams tangle with Watson in preseason games.
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:08 pm
It would be great if he works out. Can spell vita and then be long term replacement.
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Him next to Vita on the goal line is the answer to the Tush Push!!
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Any idea what his weight is now? Hopefully less than 437?
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Since we don’t have any other XXXL DTs other than Vea on the roster – it seems to me that Watson has a clearer path to making the team (or at least the practice squad) than most any other UDFA rookie….
Watson and UDFA Jake Majors – the Center form Texas both have a good chance of making the team in some capacity….
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:26 pm
What I really want is a camera over the scale like you watch trail cam footage.
Just set an alarm when it reaches 400lbs and then I’ll be intrigued.
I watched him play as a Gators fan and he DOES NOT have a quick Get Off.
I wouldn’t even call it a Get Off.
More like a Stand Up.
Get Off should really be reserved for something entirely different when he is concerned.
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Perhaps he can run in a TD like the Fridge did for the Bears in the SB.
Oh wait, never mind.
Bowles will never get to a SB as a HC.
Carry on.
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:40 pm
Not making the team. Fun story, but not happening
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:42 pm
I’ll believe it when I see it 🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:50 pm
Gotta cheer for this beast. Would be so good for all concerned if he can make the team.
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:55 pm
Really, I wouldn’t count him out yet. A longshot, sure. Was under 6 seconds 40 yard dash at 464 pounds. That’s downright scary. He knocks off some more lbs. and has professional training we will get a better look at his heart. That’s the muscle that is gonna have to be the strongest.
May 22nd, 2025 at 3:55 pm
Line him up vs WR…it will take them 5 seconds to get around him…
May 22nd, 2025 at 4:01 pm
At least those training camp mattress moving guards will think they’re in hog heaven when they get back to moving mattresses!
May 22nd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Two
To
Too
May 22nd, 2025 at 4:13 pm
I hate the fans on here it’s depressing no one here says anything good about our players undrafted or actual picks when I first started reading on this site it was cool but didn’t know if people are buccaneers fan or Brady /gronk fans but still was a lil better …..now it doesn’t matter it’s troll after troll for the HC GM PLAYERS ASSISTANT COACHES THE FIELD THE GAME doesn’t matter just don’t feel like a KREWE fan base love the articles but not to much the fans anymore it’s low key toxic
May 22nd, 2025 at 4:25 pm
Honestly, if he can get below 400, he has a good chance to make the team. If he gets below 380 he can return punts. lol.
May 22nd, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Keep him on practice squad until playoffs then use him against Philly.
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Imagine Reddick comes back to form and YaYa breaks out. Then put Vita Watson and Kancey in the middle. That would be an awesome front.
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Not trolling, The odds of an undrafted player (even a 7th rounder) making the team, especially on a playoff team that drafts as good as the bucs, is very little.
Add to that an out of shape DT trying to get into NFL condition, I would be surprised if he even makes the practice team
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Really Says:
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Not trolling, The odds of an undrafted player (even a 7th rounder) making the team, especially on a playoff team that drafts as good as the bucs, is very little.
___________________________________________________
Let me introduce you to my little friend: His name is Christian Idzien!
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:23 pm
Also:
Christian Izien (CB): Izien made the 53-man roster and played in the 2023 and 24 season.
Rakim Jarrett (WR): Jarrett also made the 53-man roster and saw playing time.
Derrek Pitts (CB): Pitts also made the 53-man roster.
Sean Tucker (RB): Tucker was also signed and made the 53-man roster.
Markees Watts (OLB): Watts was signed and also made the 53-man roster.
Kaevon Merriweather (S): Merriweather was signed and made the 53-man roster.
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:45 pm
You all got it backwards…have him GAIN weight! 700lb wall on goal line stops and conversely for Baker to sneak behind! If ur gonna be a niche player be a gigantic one!
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Kids vertical was over 25″…. At 460 lbs. Wtf? 😳
He’s got a good attitude and seems to know he has a lot of work to do.
Got to root for him even if statistically he’s a long shot – bros trying to reach his dream 👍🏼
May 22nd, 2025 at 5:56 pm
He will make the team as a practice squad player. He will be activated for week 4 vs Philly. If he does well then a Dallas Steers, NYG or Washington Commodes might try to steal him or trade for him (maybe Licht could get a 4th or 5th rounder out of a UDFA) as a way to deal with tush push. If he does really well TB might have to permanently promote him to the active roster to protect him. With him in the center with Vea teams could be forced to go outside or pass on short yardage situations. Him and Vea could also possibly occupy 4 blockers resticting offenses and creating lanes for Kancey and edge rushers and linebackers and blitzers. Also a possible blicker on short yardage or goal line situations. He is used to Florida weather and summers. Plus he likes being in Tampa Bay. He appears to have a good attitude. This is wishful thinking but imagine the possibilities. It’s worth the risk.
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:00 pm
He’s very strong and decently quick for his size. Could be a crazy team up with Vea if he can get in shape….certainly worth checking out!
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:08 pm
I don’t think people understand he’s strong too. He benched 36 times at his Pro Day. That’s 3 reps more than anyone at the Combine.
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:23 pm
What a freaking joke. This guy doesn’t make it to training camp. “If he gets in shape….” Come on man!! All the same butt hurt geniuses who get on here throwing fits for Trask to start are the same people fluffing this guy. Gee I wonder why? I have said it many times and y’all keep proving me right. Most college football fans are dumb.
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:24 pm
i heard he’s never missed a game
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:34 pm
it takes a certain mindset to be that overweight. pretty sure its not the mindset of a professional athlete.
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:38 pm
El Hefe
I get your aggravation, it’s supposed to be Joe Bucs FAN. Not Joe Bucs hater.
But a couple of guys with multiple names just keep showing up to show their backsides.
I take comfort in the fact that NONE of the gomers have ever coached an NFL team much less been the DC of a Super Bowl winning team or the HC of 4 Division titles.
ALL coaches have issues. Todd was the only coach since Ryan to win ten games.
His .375 win % with the horrid Jets is the same as Pete Carroll. Don’t notice people ripping Carrol for that.
I judge people by their learning curve and improvement. Todd has won 3 consecutive Division Titles…his win % IMPROVED every year!!!
He went ..471….529 and last season .588!!!
Sadly the posters you allude to are actually looking more and more stupid as time goes on. They are NOT improving. But when you’re a Johnny One Note…..
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:15 pm
He has like relied on his side and seems to be coming in as highly coachable. He is going to have Charlie Strong coaching him everyday
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:07 pm
Considering how much interest from other teams Watson had prior to being signed as an undrafted free agent, I doubt the Bucs can hid him on the practice squad. Either he makes the teams as 53 or we lose him.
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:07 pm
Hey Pete,
The guy is talking about You….
You’re nothing but a negative blow hard if someone isn’t interested in your obsolete love interests.
In fact you’re a pretty sanctimonious guy. Who do you think you are hun? From what you’ve said you resemble a wrinkled up fart.
Let me guess… You’re so old that you simply Can’t see a better tomorrow. You can no longer comprehend that the rest of us are TIRED of being let down year after year after year .
The TRUTH IS that a New Direction to get us to a Super Bowl IS REQUIRED!
Infact aren’t you the guy that Demanded that we keep Dirk Koetter and NOT to bring in Bruce Arians! NOT TODD BOWLES. NO! We brought in a guy named BRUCE ARIANS!
And we WON the Super Bowl shortly after. There was a guy named “Dungy”;that just couldn’t get us there and we brought in another man that won us our 1st Super Bowl and his name was Gruden…. (At least Dungys defense was good…)
The moral of the story??? BOWLES ISN’T CAPABLE LADIES! It’s TIME for a CHANGE!
That’s NOT negative! THAT’S Positive, Forward Thinking!
And YOU GUYS WHOM BELIEVE YOU’VE GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT , YOU BETTER WAKE UP! YOU’RE BORING THE REST OF US WHO KNOW BETTER!
Go back to sleep Pete and crawl back under your BLIND ROCK! Or WAKE UP AND SMELL THE CHANGE COMING FOR THE POSITIVE GOOD!
SUPER BOWL BABY! THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS!
May 22nd, 2025 at 8:23 pm
Let’s focus on the real elephant in the room. Every room. All day everyday….the secondary. When that gets fixed everything else will be easy the way this team is built
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:00 pm
Put him on the practice squad. With Zepbound and NFL caliber trainers he can definitely be transformed for 2026. Possibly he could contribute at end of season. Question is does NFL consider Glp1 drugs performance enhancers?
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:30 pm
*Too large
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Im with el hefe and StPeteBucsfan,
Tired of all these hating ass super pretendo ass BUCS fans that prob have no friends and no life and nothing better to do but wait for a new article to come out so they can purposely try to take away and optimistic joy that a REAL FAN has. I truly feel sorry for that lonely miserable person that gets joy out of being a troll on a BUCS FANSITE NOT HATERSITE.
May 22nd, 2025 at 10:19 pm
Some of you should be embarrassed for bashing the Bucs,
You’re not a true fan, you’re a bandwagon blow hard WTH no common sense like the left.
I’ve been a fan for 50 years, never wavered and never thought I was like Smarter than JL.
Be fan and support our beloved Bucs, this could be a great year.
May 22nd, 2025 at 10:42 pm
Would love to see this kid down to 385lbs for 1st game. Have seen the film and he is surprisingly quick. It would be possible given his fat content to lose 25lbs/mo for the next 3months. If he is serious about playing in the NFL, with the help of BUCs nutritionist he can lose the weight.
May 22nd, 2025 at 11:17 pm
There aren’t too many 6’ 6”, 430# humans walking this Earth
May 23rd, 2025 at 12:10 am
“pretty sure its not the mindset of a professional athlete.”
He’s what 21/22? no mindset is fixed.
The good new is he seemed to have had some awful eating habits. not in terms of quantity but in terms of eating junk. You can change that easier than just used to eating a lot. He’s dropped nearly 30 already.
if he drops under 400 he could be a beast considering what he had been doing way over 450. IF he breaks 400 I like his chances.
In the meantime somebody should make a list of what Watson used to eat and give Tez. We might end up with the steal of the draft and the steal of the undrafted.
May 23rd, 2025 at 12:28 am
“And YOU GUYS WHOM BELIEVE YOU’VE GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT , YOU BETTER WAKE UP! YOU’RE BORING THE REST OF US WHO KNOW BETTER!”
Oh no the two teen Keyboard Gms with 4 accounts each are bored. The batman pajamas fad didn’t last long.
May 23rd, 2025 at 12:48 am
He couldn’t move the future mattress movers jn in college and they werent nearly as talented as the ones that will be cut by the NFL soon.
May 23rd, 2025 at 1:16 am
His balance is the issue.
He needs to improve his cardio and lower body strength.
May 23rd, 2025 at 4:30 am
Hope he gets to a point where he can compete. Just like Todd said. Right now he can’t. Listen to the trainers and get in shape Mr Watson. I am no expert but I did play some ball here in Florida. July is no joke for anyone! 2 a days were brutal.
Go Bucs!
May 23rd, 2025 at 4:39 am
I am very excited about seeing Dez play on the Bucs. Love seeing the local kids make it. Coach Bowles has a plan in getting him in shape and that is optimistically great!
May 23rd, 2025 at 5:48 am
I’m a Gator grad and Gator fan. The kid didn’t attend East Jesus State. He attended a top shelf D1 school with nutritionists and cafeterias dedicated to athletes. There were multiple articles about how UF was trying to help him lose weight. It worked for a little bit, but he slid back into the same bad habits and his playing time was reduced. The Buc’s training staff if likely better than UF’s, but not by much. It’s a long shot that he’s changed. Possible, but I’m dubious.
May 23rd, 2025 at 7:30 am
I like how you kinda called him an elephant without calling him an elephant
May 23rd, 2025 at 10:39 am
He could be around 400 by July 1st. With the increase in cardio and food replacement strategies provided by a NFL team. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets down to 385 by August. Plus he’s faster than most people in this chat.
May 23rd, 2025 at 11:06 am
I’m rooting for this young man to improve himself. It would be amazing if he made the team in any capacity.
May 23rd, 2025 at 12:45 pm
Leave him alone, which one of you all with the negative talk towards this young man can run a 40 yard dash under 5 second? Probably none and he has dropped about 30lbs of if I am correct, he knows what needs to be done to get the job so allow him to do that. Let’s go Watson you got this.
May 23rd, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Lifelong Gator Fan, I am not sure why Dez would get into shape now. Hopefully he does drop 75 lbs, can contribute on D and realizes his potential as a large human who is athletically gifted and could be effective if HE JUST GOT INTO SHAPE. It would always amaze me how nobody on the staff in Gainesville could get through to this guy about his fitness, he would actually gain weight during the season every year. My hope that Dez achieves a level of fitness and make the roster/practice squad, not holding my breath. Good Luck Dez!
May 23rd, 2025 at 6:52 pm
Here’s to ya kid. We in Buc nation are pulling for you.Hope you make it.