Broncos Prospect Profile: Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson

Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with the 2017 NFL Draft. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.

Looking back it isn’t a surprise that Clemson won the national championship just a few months ago. With players like Deshaun Watson and Mike Williams, Clemson had plenty of elite talent on the offensive side of the ball. However, they weren’t short of talent on the defensive side of the ball either, specifically along the defensive line, led by defensive tackle Carlos Watkins.

As a second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC, Watkins was a force to reckon with during his senior season and has many traits that will translate to the next level. The 23-year-old is currently projected to be a third to fourth round pick.

Strengths

A top 10 defensive tackle recruit out of high school, Watkins has an impressive skillet, specifically when it comes to getting in the backfield. During his senior season, Watkins tallied an incredible 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss coming from the middle of the defensive line. When he doesn’t get into the backfield, he puts his hands in the air and is successful in batting down passes with good anticipation.

At 6-foot-3, 309 pounds, Watkins already has the frame needed for the next level and he still has room to grow. The athletic big man also has good awareness and diagnosis plays quickly.

Weaknesses

As strong as Watkins is as a pass rusher, he lacks that in defending the run. As a top-heavy defender, Watkins plays with a high center of gravity and poor pad level, consistently allowing offensive lineman to get under him and push him off the line of scrimmage. He cannot take on double teams and often loses one-on-one battles against the run.

Additionally, Watkins has a severe drop off in his play when he is not fresh so he must be kept in a rotation in order to play effectively. Due to this, he lacks consistency and explosion in his every down play.

How he fits in Denver

While Watkins no doubt has the talent to succeed at the next level, his fit is not ideal with the Broncos. Denver was third in the league with 42 sacks last season, yet fifth-worst against the run. Since Watkins would only exacerbate this, Denver won’t have him as a high priority in the draft.

However, if he were to fall to them in the mid rounds, the Broncos could add him to keep the pass defense atop the league. He would likely be a situational pass rusher that played sparingly on a rotation until he was able to improve against the run. If Watkins is used properly in the NFL he could have an impact right away, however, if he’s used incorrectly, he could be a big liability against the run.