2022 NFL Draft: Tampa Bay Buccaneers retool in 7-round mock draft
By Kyle Edmond
Round 4, Pick 129: Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
Scouting Report. Jaylen Watson. player. 846. Pick Analysis. CB. Washington State. 4
The secondary for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is another unit that has the potential to sustain a significant hit. Both Carlton Davis and Jordan Whitehead are set to become free agents, leaving potentially two starting spots open on the field.
The sample size is small for Jaylen Watson, but he is far from it. Standing 6-foot-3 204 pounds, Watson played just 15 games for Washington State. Watson spent his first two seasons at Ventura College in California, being named to the Junior College Bureau All-America First Team following the 2018 season when he had 13 pass breakups and four interceptions.
Watson initially signed on with USC, but decided not to enroll and missed the 2019 season before rerouting to Washington State in 2020 where he was All-PAC 12 Honorable Mention in his first season. Over his 15 games at Washington State, Watson tallied 44 tackles, two interceptions and five fumbles recovered.
For Watson, he has the potential. His road to the NFL has been different than most, but he has the ability to grow into an impact player. For Tampa Bay, this could be a gem of a pick this late in the draft, especially if both Davis and Whitehead move on from the team.