Buccaneers GM Sends Strong Message to 464-Pound Rookie DT

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned heads during the offseason when they signed 464-pound defensive tackle Desmond Watson as an undrafted free agent. The heaviest player in NFL history, Watson’s size makes him a sight to behold, but it’s also causing some problems for the Buccaneers.

Watson opened training camp on the non-football illness list, with head coach Todd Bowles confirming that the former Florida Gator wasn’t practicing because of his weight. With training camp now well underway, Watson still isn’t practicing, which led to Tampa Bay’s general manager Jason Licht sending him a strong message.

Jason Licht’s Message to Desmond Watson

Watson spent four seasons with Florida in college, but he never managed to make too big an impact. In 2024, Watson racked up 20 tackles and one pass deflection in 13 games, primarily acting as a run-stuffing interior defensive lineman who freed up his teammates to go and wreak havoc in the opposing backfield.

While his weight catches people’s attention, Watson is a freak athlete considering his size, and the Buccaneers are looking to harness that athleticism and mold him into a key piece of their defensive line. The problem, however, is that he is not at the team’s desired weight, meaning he cannot take the field until he gets to where the team wants him to be in that department.

Watson hasn’t taken the field for practice yet, but he’s been putting in work behind the scenes in an effort to cut his weight. When asked about Watson, Licht said he’s still working on cutting his weight, but he made it clear that the undrafted rookie isn’t going to take the field until the Buccaneers are happy with where he’s at physically.

“We have some milestones we want him to hit before we get him out there,” Licht said, per Michael Davis Smith of Pro Football Talk. “He’s doing a solid job getting there. That’s all I’ll say.”

What Should Buccaneers Do with Desmond Watson?

Tampa Bay finds itself in a bit of a unique spot with Watson. On one hand, there’s really no risk having him aboard, as he’s an undrafted free agent, so there aren’t many expectations for him. On the other hand, though, Watson has the potential to become an impact player in the NFL if he can figure out his weight. The Buccaneers want to work with him to help unlock his full potential, but the fact that he still isn’t practicing is a bit of a concern.

It’s still somewhat early in training camp, so the Bucs have time to figure out what their plan is with Watson, but until he gets his weight situation figured out, he’s going to remain on the sidelines for the time being. The Buccaneers are well-stocked on their defensive line beyond Watson, so his absence isn’t a major issue, but if he wants a shot at sticking around with the team, he’s going to have to find a way to cut his weight before it’s too late.