Desmond Watson Talks Weight Loss, Smoother Road Than Gators Teammates
June 19th, 2025
Can 400-plus pound rookie defensive tackle Desmond Watson make the Tampa Bay roster?
The undrafted rookie out of the University of Florida is a long shot but he will get his chance.
Watson was very positive about his Bucs experience last week when talking to Rock Riley on The Rock Stops Here podcast at mandatory minicamp. The Plant City native raved about the support he’s gotten from veteran teammates.
“I’ve been talking to my other college teammates; some of them haven’t had the same experience,” Watson said. “I feel like everybody here is helpful. … Literally everybody is trying to drag everybody along, you know, get’em to where they can perform their best even if it may be their competition.”
When it came to Watson’s well publicized weight challenges, Watson went there first in the interview. Asked to state the No. 1 thing he must do to make the Bucs roster, Watson focused on his body.
“I feel like it’s pretty evident, losing the weight, of course,” Watson replied. “Still, even though I’ve been doing good on the journey, I think it’s still a thing for me. Other than that, just getting better. I feel like this league is about what you can do for them, and I want to be as useful as possible.”
Watson added that he does not have a specific weight goal from the Buccaneers. He and the Bucs “have a great understanding that it’s a journey” Watson said, “and they just want me to keep going, as do I.”
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June 19th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Couldn’t be prouder of the players, front office, coaches for the environment they’ve created and maintain.
Keep working big boy… Wishing you the best 👍🏼
June 19th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
“Can 400-plus pound rookie defensive tackle Desmond Watson make the Tampa Bay roster?”
NO
If he gets his weight under 380 and shows real football capabilities – then maybe…. but he’d have to beat out both Brewer and Mike Green for that 6th DL spot. (Vea, Kancey, Hall, Roberts (5th rd) and Gaines are all locks to make the final 53)
Practice Squad is the most likely scenario for Desmond Watson this year – and thats IF he continues to lose weight and looks promising in training camp and preseason.
June 19th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
VEA, WIRFS, GOEDEKE
Bucs Bigs aren’t just big, they also ridiculously strong.
Wirfs owns weightlifting records at his college and he has the power to jump out of pools. Goedeke is stronger than Wirfs … according to Wirfs. And, the story of Vea’s college heritage trip display of strength is still one of the funniest football stories.
HOW DOES WATSON COMPARE
Watson isn’t just heavy, he’s THE STRONGEST GUY ON THE TEAM. He’s strong AF!!! Watson squats 720lbs (Wirfs 625 lbs) and benched 225lbs x36 (Wirfs x24).
If he can get his weight into the mid to high 300s, he could be a problem. It’s a big “if” (literally), so if you’re pulling for this guy remember to pull with your legs.
June 19th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Go Big Dez… want to see him beside Big V during a tush push and other goal line situations. He can be a beast if he whips it into shape….even if it takes a year.
June 19th, 2025 at 4:57 pm
Slypirate- 👏
Outstanding post! You and DR crush it here! Thanks Bros.
June 19th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
He squats 720…plus the 400 he’s carrying around. That’s some core in there!
June 19th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
I wish him all the best, I’d love to see him achieve his dream of making the team. The greatest motivation comes from within, the fact that he feels accepted and encouraged by his fellow teammates and coaches can only help. Go get it!
June 19th, 2025 at 5:04 pm
Even if he doesn’t make the team, I hope the support and motivation leads to him reaching and maintaining a healthier weight.
June 19th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Even if he never makes the active roster it’ll serve him well to lose about a hundred pounds.
June 19th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
Oops. Looks like we said the same thing.
June 19th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
I really hope this guy works out. Would love to see him and Vea next to each other.
June 19th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Good hard knocks story.
June 19th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
Keep working Watson. We support you.
And yes…if he can get to 380-385…that’s a great plug on the tush push for sure.
I’m sure Licht and Co were thinking that in advance.
June 19th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
Luv the kid. But I just don’t see it happenning on this roster. To many good linemen to beat out. His best bet is the practice squad. It should not be that hard to get down to 350 for him IF..he really wants it. Good luck Watson. All Buc fans are pulling for you.
June 19th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
I can’t speak for you all, but I want this kid to succeed with us so f’n bad. Even if he can’t get himself in order for this season and we can stow him away on the practice squad it’ll be a good look for our offense on scout team.
Don’t need him to be a star or anything like that, but think a Demar Dotson type project with a much better locker room and staff for Watson to lend a hand in him trying to stick in the NFL.
I hope he stays healthy through camp so we can see him get some snaps in the preseason. The 2nd half of those games are going to be entertaining to say the least.
June 19th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
Dez, TBBF doesn’t have a weight problem…he has a height problem…needs to be 7’5” instead of 6’5”
June 19th, 2025 at 6:43 pm
“I feel like it’s pretty evident, losing the weight, of course,” Watson replied. “Still, even though I’ve been doing good on the journey, I think it’s still a thing for me. Other than that, just getting better. I feel like this league is about what you can do for them, and I want to be as useful as possible.”
—–
You have to hand to him he has the right attitude. He also landed with a good organization to help him achieve that goal. If he sticks with the plan but doesn’t make the team at least his health will be headed in the right direction. Job one is to get the weight off. Even for that reason alone I am pulling for him. Hate to see a young man carrying all that weight.
June 19th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
Hopefully this kid can get his weight down and show some something in the preseason. I’m rooting for him
June 19th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
3 dudes walk into a bar:
VEA, WIRFS, GOEDEKE
they knock off about 40-50 beers at the counter and progressively get louder…just enjoying themselves…not even causing trouble…
– everyone leaves, including the bartender 🙂
– the bar is empty
– you hear wind in the background, like a ghost town in a cowboy flick
🙂
June 19th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
I think he makes the practice squad, he keeps working and he makes the roster potentially next season
June 19th, 2025 at 7:33 pm
When did I get redirected to Joe Gators Fan .com?
June 19th, 2025 at 7:38 pm
Pickgrin
Did you watch any Gator games? I’m going guess not because you don’t realize how athletic he is for his size(watch some tape and commentary from UF games). It’s June, homeboy has a NFL nutritionist, weight lifting program and another FL summer on the schedule. Unless he plays poorly, doesn’t try…the Bucs are not going to invest in something that can stop the Tush Push and let him get scooped up by another team if they try to cut then sign to the practice squad. They have to be cut, put on waivers where any other team can claim.
June 19th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
Full disclosure. I am a Gator fan.
With that being said, this is just my take on this young man’s situation. Keep in mind, I live ~6 hrs from Tampa and neither of the Joes and for dang sure none of the Glazers even know I exist.
I think the Bucs organization took this young man to try and help him get healthy. If memory serves he got a very low signing bonus and I think he’s only making $50k per year.
In my mind stuff like this (if I am right) is what makes me love this organization, front office and team!
Everybody bringing everyone else along. I love it!
I hope this young man sticks with our team and I would love to see him and Vita Vea lined up next to each other on Sunday.
GO BUCS!
June 19th, 2025 at 8:31 pm
I want Desmond to make the team. Think if he can get under 400 before preseason and then down to about 385 by the first game he has a good shot. I would love to see line up with Vea. Nobody is pushing those two guys around. Desmond could be our secret weapon…. lol.
June 19th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Members of practice squads with less than 2 years experience make $13,000 per week during the season. I guess some of them get signing bonuses etc.
June 19th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
I’m pulling for the guy I sure hope he checks out refrigerator Perry and sees what happened to him as his weight ballooned out of control.
June 19th, 2025 at 9:16 pm
Love the story but he had years in a top university program to achieve the best conditioning level for him. To late but great story and wish him the best.
June 19th, 2025 at 9:38 pm
NO CHANCE. Doesn’t care enough to get in shape until allegedly the last two months. Best advise.for this kid is remember the ball is live off of the net
June 19th, 2025 at 10:54 pm
Wishing desmond the best, but offenses will turn up the tempo every time he’s in the game. I just don’t see it working out.
June 19th, 2025 at 11:12 pm
Anyone who talks about being on a ‘journey’ should be immediately fired, or in this case, cut.
June 19th, 2025 at 11:22 pm
As soon as he can drop into deep middle zone and watch a tight end run by him, he’s golden.
June 19th, 2025 at 11:27 pm
Man.. heck. Why not? If he Really wants it…. If he REALLY WANTS IT…. He’ll drop that weight! And when he does, he’ll become. Much Faster and much, much more of a problem for anybody line up on the other side of the ball.
He has So Much excess weight that it shouldn’t be much of a hill to climb to lose that hundred pounds plus. If he half hearts it.. He’s Gone! If it’s a Real fight to change his life, He’s gonna be a Fantastic Personal / Buccaneers Success Story and he may be on that D line Collapsing Offensive line FOR YEARS and making generational money through time and book and movie deals as he plays his part in the building of the “First Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dynasty!”
Desmond Watson…… “First To Ever Do It!” SUPER BOWL OR BUST
June 19th, 2025 at 11:43 pm
i thought they werent in pads yet?
June 20th, 2025 at 12:03 am
Rod, we need less journey-ing and more head on collisions. He’s a rookie though so we’ll cut him a little slack.
June 20th, 2025 at 12:45 am
Carrying that much weight, in August, in Tampa?
Sounds like a heart attack.
June 20th, 2025 at 1:32 am
Go for it Dez! Determination and discipline will pay off for you sir.
Go Bucs!
June 20th, 2025 at 5:23 am
Enjoy Rock’s stories along with the interviews! Good vibes all around.
Dez is from Plant City, Armwood High. Learned that other teams wanted him and he has a huge fan base. Rooting for Dez! Grounded kid. He can do it!
Growing up, I can remember my family raving about Refrigerator Perry. He was around the same size. Dez is right. It’s a journey. Go Bucs!