Kansas City Chiefs: Meet your starting free safety, Armani Watts
By Chris Taylor
The Kansas City Chiefs struck gold during the draft in nabbing safety Armani Watts. He should be a sure thing when it comes to starting week one.
Armani Watts was a steal in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Watts was probably one of a few steals that the Kansas City Chiefs got away with on draft day. With Ron Parker gone, the free safety position is up for grabs, and Watts may already have it in his grasps.
Holes needed to be filled for the Kansas City Chiefs. Brett Veach and Andy Reid did just that through this draft. When the Chiefs selected Watts, the attention that the pick got put Watts in the spotlight, and he hasn’t disappointed in watching the film.
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The knock on Watts was his tackling. Apparently, it was just the style of tackling that caused concerned. This kid can straight up play. He can defend deep, he can stop the run and boy can he stop the run nicely.
His college numbers as sweet as the Italian fashion brand he shares his name with. Over four years at Texas A&M he collected 324 total tackles, 24 for a loss. He snatched 10 interceptions and swatted away 17 others. Watts also forced seven fumbles and recovered five. These numbers are ludacris for a fourth-round pick.
The starting gig should be Watts for the taking his rookie year. He’s in a battle with last year’s sixth-round pick Leon McQuay III, new addition Robert Golden and Jordan Sterns. Armani appears to be head over heels more talented than all three combined and that’s not a knock on those three gentlemen at all.
Watts has a closing speed that’s just uncanny. As you will see in the video below, he comes out of nowhere to make some of these plays. He’s so fast to the ball, and when he gets there he usually comes strong. He does tend to play with reckless abandon, but his energy and aggressiveness are
to be commended.
In a recent article by Jeff Shull of Gig Em Gazette, the FanSided site that covers Texas A&M, Shull wrote that Watts would be a perfect fit for the Kansas City Chiefs. Able to slide right in next to Pro Bowler Eric Berry, he can play deep as well as in the box and on blitz packages.
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The Chiefs fans who miss Marcus Peters should find solace with Armani Watts. He has a chance to be a household name very soon.