Meet Up! Everything you need to know about LB Nathaniel Watson, Jr.

Linebacker is the only position on the entire roster in which there is a clear opening

The Cleveland Browns went into the NFL draft knowing that whoever they selected the franchise did not require any of the new athletes to start this year, or even play for that matter. How cool is that?

On the unofficial depth chart, all eleven offensive positions are filled. All the special teams spots are taken. 10 of 11 positions on the defense are also spoken for. The only real spot open for competition is one of the outside linebacker spots.

It was assumed that GM Andrew Berry would draft a linebacker. The LB room currently consists of starters Jordan Hicks on the inside, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah at the WILL and, several players vying for the SAM position, previously held by Sione Takitaki.

The competition for the job consists of Tony Fields, Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, Charlie Thomas, III, and Caleb Johnson.

Now add one more to this list: Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson, Jr. (6’-2”, 245 pounds) who was taken with the #206 pick in Round 6.

RELATED: NATHANIEL WATSON, JR. PROFILE

Is this the linebacker the roster has been waiting for? What’s his story?

Beginnings

The tale of Watson is truly the story of small-town rags to well, maybe not riches, but more so to advanced assets.

Watson grew up in rural Alabama in Maplesville which is several miles south of Lawley. The population sits around 637. Where’s Lawley? Why, just down Highway 82 from the City of Centreville. C’mon, surely you heard of Centerville, right? They have four traffic lights now. And from there if you continue northwest on 82 you end up in Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama. This location is familiar to all.

Watson grew up an Alabama fan and assumed he would end up there if he was good enough. He attended Maplesville High School where farming is a daily conversation and everyone has a calendar with tractors pictured each month. The town got its name not from a variety of trees, but from a settler named Stephen Maples who was the first postmaster once the railroad tracks went through the town. The oldest grave dates back to 1833.

The largest money crop grown is cotton, but a rotation of corn, soybeans, and peanuts is also seen consistently when driving through. Raising livestock is also a considerable operation.

Watson played basketball and receiver on offense and linebacker on the defensive side of the ball. Most players went both ways because of being a small school. It is officially labeled a “secondary school” because within its walls comprise pre-kindergarten through the high school level.

He was invited to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.

Watson does not answer to Nathaniel. Or Nate for that matter. Watson’s nickname is “Bookie” with an emphasis on the double-O. Actually, it’s not his nickname but what he prefers to be called, and what she answers to.

His father, Nathaniel, Sr., was known as “Big Bookie” and as Junior came along he was called “Little Bookie.” But as he grew into this huge linebacker body, he claimed the name “Bookie” for himself.

Mississippi State DC Zach Arnett stated on cDispatch.com:

“He’s played every single linebacker position for us throughout the course of the season. To have a guy like that…just him alone makes you two-deep at each position.”

This sounds appealing to Berry and also to Browns DC Jim Schwartz who values versatility among his players. Attrition is always part of every NFL season, so each athlete must be able to plug into a position they may not be that familiar with at some point.

Watson had college offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Clemson, Troy, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Bowling Green. On February 7, 2018, he signed a letter of intent to Mississippi State. You know, head northwest on Highway 82 and when you get to Tuscaloosa, continue traveling on 82 for another 1.5 hours past the peanut farms until you reach Starkville.

He appeared in two games as a freshman before being redshirted with the program. In his Redshirt freshman season of 2019, he appeared in seven games and 10 the following year while getting snaps on defense as well as special teams.

2021 was his breakout year. Watson was now the undisputed starter as an outside linebacker. He started all 12 games and had 83 total tackles, five sacks, one batted pass, 15 pressures, six tackles for loss, and 11 QB hits. In the loss to Alabama, he had 16 tackles plus a sack.

The success and production escalated from there.

In the 2022 season, he had 113 tackles. Watson also accumulated 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, his first interception, one forced fumble, 17 pressures, and 12 QB hits. For his improved efforts, he was named Second Team All-SEC.

With the pandemic year, Watson was able to add another college season. So officially, his senior season became his sixth year playing college football.

Last year, he had an incredible 137 total tackles. No, not a misprint. Oh, and 10 sacks with 13 tackles for loss, an interception, two batted passes, and 35 pressures.

Watson’s accolades include being named First Team All-SEC, Butkus Award Finalist, and was elected the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was invited to play in the prestigious Reese’s Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl, and got an invite to the Combine.

Combine results:

Hand: 9 7/8”

Arm: 32 7/8”

Wingspan: 81”

10-yard split: 1.58

40-yard dash: 4.63

Vertical jump: 31”

Broad jump: 9’3”

Scouting report on The Draft Network:

Mississippi State’s Nathaniel Watson enters the draft after a sensational career that saw him develop into one of the best and most productive linebackers in college football. Watson is a sixth-year senior who has played a ton of football. He aligned as an off-the-ball linebacker in the Bulldogs 3-3-5 defense and that’s where he projects best at the next level.

Watson is a well-built linebacker with good size and excellent length. He is an above-average athlete who is a smooth mover in space but lacks quick twitch and explosive movements. Watson is a good player in zone coverage, displaying a very good ability to get depth in his drops, and shows good awareness of backs and receivers entering his area. He is an instinctive player in coverage and naturally can flow to the football by reading the quarterback’s eyes.

Career Honors:

• Drafted in the 6th round, pick 206, by the Cleveland Brown in the 2024 NFL Draft
• NFL Combine Participant
• 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl Participant
• 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl Invitee
• 2023 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• 2023 Phil Steele All-American (Third Team)
• 2023 Phil Steele All-SEC (First Team)
• 2023 ESPN All-American (Second Team)
• 2023 AP All-American (Third Team)
• 2023 All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
• 2023 AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year
• 2023 AP All-SEC First Team
• 2023 College Football Network All-American (Second Team)
• 2023 College Football Network All-SEC First Team
• 2023 Butkus Award Finalist
• 2023 Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week (Week 12 vs. Southern Miss)
• 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 12 vs. Southern Miss)
• 2023 Conerly Trophy Finalist
• 2023 Butkus Award Semifinalist
• 2023 Bednarik Award National Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8 at Arkansas)
• 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8 at Arkansas)
• 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
• 2023 Preseason All-SEC (PFF, LB)
• 2023 Preseason All-SEC (Media, 2nd team)
• 2022 Second Team All-SEC (LB: AP, Coaches’)
• 2022 SEC Academic Honor Roll
• 2020 SEC Academic Honor Roll

What should Browns fans expect from Watson?

Watson is a run-and-hit linebacker who is at his best when he has a free alley to the ball carrier. He struggles coming downhill in the box as he lacks the strength to take on blockers and stack and shed. Watson has just average speed to the sideline and ball-carriers can get outside on him when he is in pursuit. He is a good tackler when he gets squared up on the ball carrier and has a very good tackle radius.

His strengths are he has a ton of production, adequate length, and he has a huge pass-rushing presence.

He needs to work on his change of direction skills as he has some hesitation. Watson also has some issues with blocking deconstruction, especially on the second level. And he has minimal range.

WHY HE COULD SUCCEED:

His collegiate career is decorated with multiple accolades. Watson is a highly productive linebacker who had 250 total tackles over the last two seasons combined. He also has an old-school mentality as a run defender, showing a willingness to throw his body around and be physical when coming downhill. Watson is a highly productive off-ball linebacker who has good size and length but is just an average overall athlete with limited speed and quickness to make plays at the NFL level.

WHY HE COULD FAIL:

There are questions about how Watson’s production will translate to the NFL, as he lacks a lot of desired traits for a linebacker. His movement skills are subpar, which impacts his ability to cover and his range against zone runs. He also isn’t a violent block-shedder and gets stuck too often for someone with his size and upper-body strength. Overall, Watson has some redeeming qualities such as his length and ability as a zone defender, but his lack of quickness and physicality hurt his pro longevity.