Watson to NFL? Former CHS player could be a hot name in the 2025 NFL Draft

Former Cleveland High School tight end Tre Watson could be the first Storm football player to suit up for an NFL team.

According to an unnamed source close to the NFL Draft Advisory Board, a branch of the NFL that handles evaluation of prospective players, Watson received a solid grade.

“He would have gone in the fourth or fifth round this year had he declared [in 2023],” the source told the Observer. “He looked good at Fresno. There’s a reason he was a hot name in the transfer portal. We had some guys in the building who would have pounded the table for him in the third round.”

Watson played three years at Fresno State but transferred to Texas A&M before his senior year. The opening game of his senior year is Aug. 31 against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

In December 2023, Watson committed to the University of Washington via the transfer portal. Early this year, Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer left the Cougars to replace legendary college football coach Nick Saban at Alabama. Thanks to new rules concerning transfers, Watson was able to de-commit from Washington and flip to Texas A&M.

In three years at Fresno State, Watson recorded 56 receptions, 592 yards and four touchdowns. His breakout season came in 2023, when he went for 378 yards and four touchdowns on 38 receptions.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) — an independent company that tracks and evaluates NFL players — in 2023, Watson played 759 total snaps, including 487 passing snaps and 272 running snaps.

At Texas A&M, Watson will join first-year head coach Mike Elko (former Duke head coach) and hopes to elevate his draft stock as he gets a chance to showcase his talent against top-tier Southeastern Conference (SEC) competition.

“Tight end is a traits position. He’s got great size and some moves,” the anonymous evaluator said. “We got good projections on him. We will see how he does this year. He could vault himself up draft boards, especially against those boys in the SEC.”

Since 2010, the SEC has had 155 first-round NFL Draft selections.

Incoming Purdue transfer tight end Garrett Miller also joins Watson at Texas A&M, and both should see plenty of action as Elko is known for favoring, and utilizing, sets featuring two tight ends.

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is Apr. 24, 2025.

Danny’s scouting report

Year: Senior

Height: 6 feet, 5 inches

Weight: 245 pounds

Pro comp: Logan Thomas

Player breakdown: After a breakout 2023 season at Fresno State, Watson was able to move to College Station, Texas, to showcase more of his talents and help Texas A&M return to football glory. Watson is an athletic tight end capable of lining up inline and in the slot. He is a smart player who can find and exploit soft coverages and can easily improvise on broken plays.

He is also a yards-after-catch (YAC) threat. He is an endzone threat and has the length to be a jump ball specialist.

In general, he has good size and the frame to cause some headaches for opponents. Watson’s long strides and big catch radius may be a matchup problem, especially for traditional nickel corners.

Watson runs smooth routes, and though not blazing fast, he can separate from defenders. From time to time, Watson can showcase his acceleration and impressive ball tracking abilities, as shown in his first touchdown versus Utah State on Oct. 3, 2023.

Watson is also a willing blocker, especially in pass blocking. He could use some refinement with technique as he sometimes loses the leverage game and struggles with speedy undersized linebackers.

While he is not small, Watson could benefit from some added bulk.

Watson’s big games to watch:

Notre Dame at Texas A&M, Aug. 31

Arkansas at Texas A&M, Sept. 28

LSU at Texas A&M, Oct. 26

Texas at Texas A&M, Nov. 30