Following stops with the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, Armon Watts … [+]
Armon Watts has stopped the run and rushed the pass in an NFL career spanning 72 games. Through tours with the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers, the well-traveled veteran has aligned from nose tackle to defensive end.
He sees an opportunity to make the most of his experience with the New England Patriots.
“I think one thing that has benefited me since I’ve been in the NFL — I’ve been able to play up and down the line,” Watts told reporters during his introductory press conference on Thursday. “I was drafted to Mike Zimmer’s defense, which is a 4-3, transitioned last year with Pittsburgh to a 3-4. So, I’ve pretty much been familiar with a lot of systems. I’ve played anywhere from the zero to the five. I think that’s one thing that’s benefited me with my body type and what I’ve been able to do versus the pass and stuff like that.”
Watts, 27, agreed to terms with New England shortly after the official start of free agency opened in March. His one-year contract carries a cap charge of $2.16 million, according to OverTheCap.com, with $500,000 of his $1.36 million base salary guaranteed.
A role in the rotation lies ahead.
The University of Arkansas product stands 22 starts into an NFL run that began in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. He registered career highs with 46 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles during his final campaign with the organization that filled out his card at No. 190 overall. Ten quarterback hits arrived in the process.
Via waivers, Watts went from Minnesota to Chicago during the 53-man roster deadline in 2022 and proceeded to start a dozen games. And from Chicago to Pittsburgh he went as a free agent last spring.
“I played around some good players,” Watts said. “I was drafted with Linval Joseph in the room, Danielle Hunter, Everson Griffen, guys like that. Being able to learn to be a professional alongside those guys has always helped me. T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward — even Alex Highsmith, him being young — those guys want to help slingshot you to the next level. Even just being able to learn little tactics, whether it’s footwork, how to beat guys on certain blocks, I tried to soak up as much information from those guys as possible. That way, when you get out there, it makes the game a lot easier for you.”
A half-sack, 15 tackles and 273 defensive snaps followed for Watts in 2023. Yet so did an average depth of tackle at 2.56 yards in the run game, per Pro Football Focus, marking a career best.
“Just being able to plug me in down the line,” the 6-foot-5, 307-pound Watts said. “I’ve had some success with rushing the passer, and I think some guys and some coaches here are going to help me take that to the next level, given this opportunity. I think last year was better for me run-wise also. Efficiency. So, I think I’m at that point in my career where everything’s coming together and I’m starting to reap the benefits of it. I’m excited to see how the Patriots take my game to another level.”
Now in Foxborough off a 4-13 season, Watts finds himself alongside first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and first-year defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. New defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, who recruited him out of high school while on staff at the University of Oklahoma, also resides there. So do fellow Razorbacks, including team captains in tight end Hunter Henry and defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr.
“They were one of the teams that showed interest early on,” added Watts. “Of course, Pittsburgh kind of showed some interest. But I think at the end of the day, I felt New England wanted me more. Like I said, it’s a good organization. The record wasn’t really a deal-breaker for me, because I know this is a great defense and what those guys do. I know they have great coaches. I know Coach Mayo is going to bring something different to the organization, and that’s kind of what stood out to me.”
