Early in the summer of last year, it came to light that Mike Tomlin had called two of his two incoming draft prospects “Avatar cornerbacks.”
For the Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary eleven months later, Tomlin added to his collection of large, athletic humanoids.
Ryan Watts went unnoticed as the seventh and last pick in a draft that has received high appreciation. Nonetheless, Watts sticks out as the newest “Avatar” in the Steelers cornerback room at 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, and 34½ inches in arms.
“I’ve never heard that one,” a bubbling Watts said in a conference call soon after his selection Saturday. “That’s a first.”
The Steelers under Tomlin have repeatedly shown a propensity to target big cornerbacks. It is very possible Watts end up at safety — the Steelers, in official capacity, thus far have termed him a “defensive back” — but the NFL’s official website and the consensus among draft analysts consistently listed him among cornerbacks in lead-up to the draft.
That’s the position he played in four years of college for College Football Playoff-level teams at Texas and Ohio State. And if Watts joins that position room, he will fit right in with the “original” Avatars in the 6-3, 206-pound Cory Trice and the 6-2, 193-pound Joey Porter Jr. The Steelers also later last year added 6-2, 198-pound rookie cornerback Darius Rush.
“He’s a long guy. He runs well,” Tomlin said of Watts. “He’s got position flexibility. He plays with an edge. So those are some of the real tangible reasons why (the Steelers drafted him).”
Dating back to 2017 fifth-round pick Brian Allen (6-3, 215) and 2019 third rounder Justin Layne (6-2, 192), the past six drafted cornerbacks the Steelers acquired as rookies have an average size of 6-2½, 203 pounds.
The organization makes it clear it values tackling, physicality and length in their corners.
Then again, those who remember the unremarkable careers of Allen and Layne (combined 13 career games played on defense for the Steelers) recognize that size isn’t everything.
“I like the idea that they can play me at a corner or safety or nickel,” Watts said. “So just being able to have that versatility, I think that’s what (the Steelers) love most about me.”
Watts’ immediate impact likely comes on special teams, a unit for which he played even as a senior starter on defense for Texas. Watts has experience on both kickoff and punt teams in addition to kick-blocking teams, and his proficiency at tackling and strength defensively against the run would seem to suit Watts quite well for the NFL’s new kickoff rules this season.
Of all of Watts’ “Avatar”-like traits for a defensive back, his 34½-inch arms stand out most. Watts had the longest arms of any cornerback or safety measured at the combine this year. For perspective, that arm length would have ranked at or near the top of any position group. Consider that Steelers first-round offensive tackle Troy Fautanu also has 34 ½-inch arms — a measurement oft-cited by scouts as to why Fautanu can excel at tackle in the NFL.
Tackle-like arm length on a body with 4.5 speed would make for a good addition to any coverage unit.
“I could fit anywhere, really, I feel with my size and my speed and (ability) moving my body” Watts said.
“Really just trying to do my best to show them that I’m worth the pick.”
At No. 195 overall late in the sixth round, truth be told, even if Watts is only a prominent special-teamer for several years he will be a worthwhile pick.
But don’t close the book on the idea of Watts as a contributor to the secondary just yet. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed just one touchdown from 267 coverage snaps for Texas in 2023 and was among the highest-graded against the run among power-conference cornerbacks the past two seasons.
“I had a lot of trials and tribulations, and I’m just here to finally be a part of a home so I can go ahead and get to work and put the odds to rest,” Watts said. “I feel like there are a lot of odds stacked against me. … So I’m ready to work.”
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