On a day when a host of players are planning the next step in their NFL journey, one player announced that his journey was coming to an end. Former Baltimore Ravens tight end Benjamin Watson announced on Twitter that he was retiring from the game.
Watson didn’t spend a great deal of time with the Ravens during his long career. A first-round selection for the New England Patriots in the 2004 NFL Draft, he spent the first six years of his career with the Patriots. It was there that Watson made perhaps the best play of his career — chasing down Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey from one end of the field to the other after he picked off Tom Brady and looked destined to score in the AFC Divisional playoffs.
Watson also played three seasons with both the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints before joining Baltimore prior to the 2016 season.
In his first preseason game with the Ravens, Watson tore his ACL. But he fought hard and recovered enough to play all 16 games for the Ravens in 2017, catching a team-leading 61 passes for 522 yards and four touchdowns. He was named a finalist for the Walton Payton Man of the Year award for his community service during his season with the Ravens but ultimately lost out to J.J. Watt.
Watson then spent one more season at two of his old teams, playing for the Saints in 2018 and the Patriots last season. He finishes his career with 547 receptions, 6,058 yards, and 44 touchdowns. His reception total is the seventh most among all NFL tight ends since 2004.
He only spent two years with the Ravens, but Watson made his presence felt in Baltimore, both on and off the field. Everyone at Ravens Wire would like to wish him the very best in the next stage of his career.