Kansas City Chiefs fans will be surprised by a former player the Houston Texans appear to be high on heading into the summer. DeMeco Ryans offered praise for Justin Watson, a former Kansas City receiver. This is unexpected as it is extremely doubtful C.J. Stroud and the Houston offense could accomplish something Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes couldn't.
In Watson's time with the Chiefs covered three seasons, he had 1,064 receiving yards.
Despite the healthy level of desperation for capable targets for Mahomes, the receiver simply couldn't do enough to be a consistent threat. Watson did offer seven touchdowns over his three-year tenure and had a handful of impactful plays. However, much of what Watson did well was simply due to the defense viewing the receiver as the least threatening option on the field.
Justin Watson Has Already Caught the Attention of the Receiver's New Head Coach
Watson is a three-time Super Bowl champ, having won two rings with the Chiefs and one previously at their expense. The receiver signed with Houston earlier this offseason after having spent four years in Tampa and the next three in Kansas City. Watson is an established veteran at this point in his career, however, it is clear he is best suited for a depth role.
The best season of Watson's career was in the 2023 season when the receiver finished with three touchdowns and 460 receiving yards. The bulk of this production was simply due to Mahomes having so few options. Still, the quarterback would take a less-than-stellar cast on a Super Bowl run to make the Chiefs the back-to-back defending champs.
For this reason, Watson remains a respected piece of franchise history. Even with a small impact, Watson played a role for one of the greatest dynasties in league history. This demands a level of respect, even though the Chiefs made the right decision turning the page.
Houston is going to quickly discover exactly what Chiefs fans already know. Justin Watson is a great role player who is best suited for a reserve role. Counting on the receiver for any consistent level of production is only going to end in predictable frustration.