Vikings Very Publicly Toss a Large Lad into NFL’s Trade Conversation
In theory, the Vikings could work the backchannels, quietly shopping a player who isn’t going to get onto the 53-man roster.
Alternatively, one could simply send along a text message to Tom Pelissero, one of the best NFL insiders in the business. The NFL Network employee sent along the update about Minnesota’s backup offensive tackle: “The #Vikings plan to waive OT Leroy Watson, per source. A college tight end, Watson has appeared in 11 NFL games (four starts). If Minnesota can’t trade him by Tuesday’s cutdown deadline, he’ll hit waivers.”
Vikings Publicly Toss Player into Trade Chatter
Essentially, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah tossed up a billboard without having to spend any money.
Pelissero’s update on social media — the spot formerly known as Twitter — functions as a very obvious, very public advertisement. The message is as follows, “Mr. Watson isn’t going to make the final roster. Rather than see if you can win out within the waiver process or snag him as a free agent, jump the line by sending over some late-round draft capital.”
It remains to be seen if there’s a team out there that’s willing to bite.
For good reason, the Minnesota Vikings feel good about their offensive tackle position.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is on the cusp of elite (and doing well from a health standpoint). Opposite Darrisaw is Brian O’Neill, a well-established veteran who has been underrated for his entire career. Those two are among the most imposing pairs in the league, a terrific twosome who can keep J.J. McCarthy’s jersey clean.
Next up are Justin Skule and Walter Rouse. The former is a veteran who was added in free agency to be the swing tackle; the latter is an upside sophomore who is being developed after getting drafted in the 6th.
Add it all together and there evidently isn’t any room for Mr. Watson.
Back in 2022, Leroy Watson jumped into the NFL as an undrafted free agent. The Falcons scooped him up, bringing the lineman to Georgia for a three-year deal. Things didn’t work out with Atlanta, leading to a journey around the NFL that included stops in San Francisco, Tennessee, Cleveland, and Minnesota.
He offers pretty good size at 6’4″ and 311 pounds. Adding onto the intrigue is that he’s only 27 and has participated in eleven career games (split between Cleveland in 2023 and Tennessee in 2024).
For whatever it’s worth, Leroy Watson played reasonably well in the preseason, per PFF. The analytics website says he earned a 64.6 grade for his efforts across his 108 snaps. Not dominant, but respectable work.
Maybe a team sees someone who can keep developing and who can be a solid OT3/4. The Vikings are hoping that that’s the case.
Watson has been traded before in his career, getting sent to the Titans in 2024 for a 7th. Minnesota would do well to earn similar draft pick compensation.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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