Former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Armon Watts will have the opportunity to sign anywhere in the NFL.
His most recent team, the New England Patriots, said sayonara this week, dropping Watts from its injured reserve list.
PatsPulpit’s Oliver Thomas reported the transaction on its website.
“Watts, 28, had been placed on IR as the roster reduced from 90 after missing the August finale. The 6-foot-5, 307-pound veteran will now have the opportunity to take the field again in 2024,” Thomas wrote on Tuesday. “He arrived in Foxborough on a one-year contract in March after tours with the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. Selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft at No. 190 overall, the Arkansas product stands 72 games and 22 starts into a career spanning 140 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a trio of forced fumbles.”
All in all, Watts lasted six months in New England.
Watts actually played all 17 games for the 2021 Vikings, Mike Zimmer’s final year in charge. He started nine of those contests and seemed on track to start once again in 2022 under head coach Kevin O’Connell. But the Vikings had different plans, releasing Watts before the final 53-man roster trimdown. His exit was one of the most surprising of the 2022 summer.
The Arkansas alumnus immediately trekked to Chicago and again played 17 games while starting 12 in 2022. However, the Bears evidently weren’t enthused by his 49.2 Pro Football Focus grade and didn’t re-sign him.
So, Watts hit the road again in 2023, latching on with the Steelers and playing 273 defensive snaps while logging 15 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. Like in 2022 with the Bears, Pittsburgh did not re-up Watts’ deal and he landed with the Patriots a few months later.
Without Watts, New England will continue to lean on these defensive tackles:
Watts, 28, will soon find NFL employment, probably on a new team’s practice squad.
As expected, New England’s season is rapidly funneling down the toilet, showcasing a 1-3 record through three games. Per DVOA, the Patriots have a 14% chance of reaching the postseason. Not much has gone right for New England since its Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. It has lost three straight, and injuries have taken a toll.
New England, before too long, will pivot to rookie quarterback Drake Maye. It’s just a matter of when.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.