Second-Year Jump: Jaylen Watson is a Rising Star

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson went from a seventh-rounder to a starter for a Super Bowl champion in his first year. How can he take the second-year jump in 2023?

Jan 29, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) reacts after making an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter of the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

In the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, with the 243rd overall pick, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Jaylen Watson, a cornerback from Washington State University. It was a curious pick at the time, considering that Watson was the third cornerback selected by the Chiefs after Trent McDuffie in the first round and Joshua Williams in the fourth round. Watson started his college career at Ventura College where he recorded 43 tackles, 13 pass breakups, four interceptions and one fumble recovery. He was recruited to USC and committed to the Trojans but wasn’t able to transfer and play there due to academic ineligibility. 

Watson’s story, like many, goes beyond the football field. He didn’t play football in 2019 and went back to his hometown to work at the Wendy’s fast food restaurant his mother was managing while completing classes to get his grades up. The off-the-field grind paid off, and he was able to transfer and get a scholarship to Washington State. He finished his college career in Pullman, Washington as a starting cornerback for the Cougars. Watson was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 player in both seasons. In his final season, he recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and a conference-leading four fumble recoveries.

The Chiefs knew they needed secondary help going into the 2022 draft, and they went after it on each day. Watson was a wildcard, but the Chiefs hoped the 6-foot-3, 200-pound cornerback would be worth developing at the NFL level. At the time of the pick, some were skeptical if he would make the team. Several months later, he was starting in the Super Bowl.

Throughout training camp and preseason, Watson earned the trust of the Chiefs coaching staff. By the time the regular season rolled around, Watson had jumped Williams, the Chiefs' fourth-round selection, on the depth chart. By Week 2, Watson made himself a household name across Chiefs Kingdom and to anyone watching the NFL’s first streamed game on Amazon Prime when he returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. The game was tied, and that play was truly a game-changer. The Chargers would have taken the lead with a touchdown on that drive, and Watson's pick turned into what was essentially a 14-point swing. The Chiefs went on to win the game, advancing to 2-0 on the season, and taking control of the division and ultimately winning the AFC West for a seventh consecutive season.

Watson had some struggles throughout his rookie season, as expected, but generally played well. He finished the regular season with 49 tackles, six pass breakups, and one big interception. In the playoffs, Watson stepped his game up even more. He recorded four tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception in both the divisional game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the conference championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the year with three tackles in a Super Bowl win against the Philadelphia Eagles, which gave him 11 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups in the playoffs.

Watson will try to build off an impressive rookie season in year two with the Chiefs. He played with confidence throughout his rookie season and will need to continue to play with the same swagger to make a second-year jump. He should be able to lock in one of the starting cornerback spots in 2023 and continue to build on the numbers he put up during the 2022 season. Watson has all the makings to continue being a solid player in the Chiefs' secondary and increase his production this season.

With the Chiefs focusing on improving the defensive line in the 2023 draft, Kansas City's secondary could look even better in 2023, and Watson will play a big role in making that happen. Watson should be able to make that second-year jump and give the Chiefs what they need out of him to continue being a Super Bowl contender. It’s not a bad spot to be in for a seventh-round pick who was out of the game just a few years ago.