Tag: Carlos Watkins

WR Zach Pascal is No. 0 for Cardinals; other player numbers

Check out the jersey number that new free agent additions have selected to wear for the Cardinals in 2023.

The Arizona Cardinals have made a number of offseason additions since the beginning of free agency. With contracts signed, these new free agent additions have selected their jersey number for the 2023 season.

As NFL rules now allow it, the Cardinals will have a player wearing No. 0 in 2023.

Below are the players and their new numbers.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Contract details for new Cardinals DL Carlos Watkins

The Cardinals signed Watkins to a one-year deal worth up to $1.67 million.

One of the Arizona Cardinals’ offseason additions was defensive lineman Carlos Watkins. It was announced a while ago but he didn’t officially sign his contract until earlier this week.

With the ink dried, we now know the details of his one-year contract, per Over the Cap.

It is a one-year contract worth as much as $1.67 million.

Watkins receives a $250,000 signing bonus and will make $1.08 million in salary in 2023, the league minimum. He can also earn up to $340,000 in per-game roster bonuses — $20,000 per game he is active.

He played in 12 games last season, starting four, for the Dallas Cowboys. He had 26 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle has been in the league since 2017, when he was drafted in the fourth round by the Houston Texans. He spent four seasons with the Texans and two with the Cowboys.

In his career, he has 132 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, five sacks, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, six pass breakups and an interception he returned for a touchdown.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cowboys DL Carlos Watkins agrees to sign with Arizona Cardinals

The big defensive lineman had been someone that Dallas wanted to re-sign, but he’ll join Arizona instead on a new one-year deal. | From @ToddBrock24f7

In an offseason where just about everything has gone according to plan for the Cowboys, Carlos Watkins may end up being the one that got away.

The free agent defensive lineman agreed to terms on Thursday with the Arizona Cardinals, ending his two-year stint with Dallas.

The Cowboys had been vocal about wanting to work out a deal for the 29-year-old Clemson product to stay put, but the 2017 fourth-round draft pick opted to ink a one-year contract with first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon’s club instead.

Watkins came to the Cowboys after four seasons in Houston. He started 18 games for Dallas in two seasons and ends his Cowboys tenure with 58 tackles, a sack, a defended pass, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception that he returned for a touchdown versus New Orleans in 2021.

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Cardinals add former Texans, Cowboys DL Carlos Watkins

The Cardinals agreed to terms with former Texans and Cowboys defensive lineman Carlis Watkins.

The Arizona Cardinals added more defensive help. They announced they agreed to terms with defensive lineman Carlos Watkins on a one-year contract.

Watkins was drafted in the fourth round by the Houston Texans in 2017.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive lineman spent four seasons with the Texans and the last two playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

He has played in 69 career games, starting 36 of them. In his career, he has 132 tackles, five sacks, three fumble recoveries, an interception he returned for a touchdown and six pass breakups.

His best seasons were 2020 for Houston and 2021 with the Cowboys. In 2020, he played in all 16 games, starting 11, and had 27 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hits, a fumble recovery and three batted down passes.

In 2021, he played in 15 games, starting 14, collecting 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception he returned 29 yards for a touchdown.

He could end up being a starter in 2023 for the Cardinals and should, at minimum, be a big part of the defensive rotation.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Carlos Watkins is a low-cost, much-needed FA re-signing for Cowboys

Watkins has quietly been a big part of the Cowboys defensive rotation the past two seasons, @ReidDHanson sees the kind of glue piece Dallas will need again.

Underrated is a sticky classification to bestow upon a player. Something underrated to one person could be overrated to another. By nature the argument is subjective, leading to many spirited debates not even confined to sports.

Calling a member of the Dallas Cowboys underrated promises outrage in one direction or the other. Often applied to players with big names and in big positions, underrated has lost some of its meaning as of late. Carlos Watkins, a rotational player deep down the roster, might just be the most truly underrated player in Dallas’ free agent class.

Watkins came to the NFL as a fourth-round pick out of Clemson. After four seasons with Houston, he joined the Cowboys in 2021. Seemingly everyone’s favorite player to cut in annual training camp roster prognostications, Watkins found a way to stick around in Dallas.

Over the past two seasons he’s played in 27 games along the defensive line. He’s shown the ability to play inside, outside and even in a two-point stance on the edge. The 29-year-old lineman has been a do-it-all player for Dan Quinn and an important front-four rotation piece on game days.

With only five career sacks and 132 combined tackles, Watkins isn’t lighting up the stat sheet. Pro Football Focus graded his 2022 as spectacularly average, but such is the nature of a blue-collar lineman.

Watkins is often tasked with occupying blockers and freeing up opportunities for others to make plays. At 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, he’s not the immoveable object the 340-pound Johnathan Hankins is next to him, just like he’s far from the backfield-crashing presence the 265-pound DeMarcus Lawrence is.

All three are listed as 6-foot-3, but that’s where the similarities end.

Watkins is a high-motor player who complements those around him. He can two-gap and he can be trusted in his run fits. He has the girth to stand up against the run but the lateral movement to pursue down the line.

When scanning the list of pending Cowboys free agents, names like Leighton Vander Esch, Tony Pollard, Dalton Schultz and Donovan Wilson all jump out. Even Hankins has pulled a fair amount of press for his play in 2022. But all of those players are big names that are likely pull down good money this off-season.

Watkins is a player who’s played six years and earned just $5,757,148 million in his career. At under $1 million/season, Watkins has a pretty good case for being the most underrated player in Dallas’ free agent class.

Ideally, the Cowboys bring back a handful of their pending free agents in 2023. While the big names will drive the headlines, it’s the blue collar workers like Watkins who will keep things humming. Playing a modest amount of snaps, for a modest sum of money, serving a variety of different roles, Watkins was an extremely useful player for Dallas in 2022.

With any luck, the Cowboys can keep him around on another affordable deal in 2023.

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What They Are Saying: Tigers in the NFL, Week 8

As usual, there was no shortage of buzz about former Clemson standouts during Week 8 of the NFL season. Check out what they are saying on Twitter about some former Tigers in the league: Seems solid. @swaggy_t1 #DENvsJAX pic.twitter.com/h7VY153LU7 – …

As usual, there was no shortage of buzz about former Clemson standouts during Week 8 of the NFL season.

Check out what they are saying on Twitter about some former Tigers in the league:

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

Former Tigers joining NFL practice squads

A bunch of former Clemson football players are joining NFL practice squads after being released Tuesday. Wide receiver Deon Cain is back with the Philadelphia Eagles on their practice squad after being waived by the Eagles, while cornerback Mario …

A bunch of former Clemson football players are joining NFL practice squads after being released Tuesday.

Wide receiver Deon Cain is back with the Philadelphia Eagles on their practice squad after being waived by the Eagles, while cornerback Mario Goodrich is also signing to the Eagles’ practice squad after being waived by the Eagles as well.

Safety Nolan Turner, who was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is back with Tampa Bay on the Bucs’ practice squad.

Defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, is back with the Cowboys on their practice squad.

Additionally, wide receiver Cornell Powell is back with the Kansas City Chiefs on their practice squad after being released by the Chiefs, while Tanner Muse was waived by the Seattle Seahawks but has been signed to the team’s practice squad.

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

Cowboys cut Carlos Watkins as odd man out in DT room

The Cowboys released the lone member of the DT room not drafted by Dallas. | From @CDBurnett7

Over the past couple seasons, the Cowboys have built up a young but talented defensive tackle room. Albeit without a star in the middle, they’ve put a multitude of draft picks into improvement at the position. The group is led by Neville Gallimore and Osa Odighizuwa, with the backup spots up for grabs between three players. Trysten Hill, Quinton Bohanna and Carlos Watkins were all competing to maintain their role in Dallas.

Watkins was the only member of the group not drafted by the team and his first season as a Cowboy in 2021 was a consistent one, racking up 32 total tackles and five tackles for loss. Both were a career-high for Watkins after an underwhelming first four years in the NFL. Unfortunately for him it wasn’t enough to bring him back to Dallas as he was one of the releases to get the roster down to 53.

Watkins’ sixth season won’t be as a Cowboy as the team cuts down to a main four playmakers with Ridgeway as the wild card for 2022.

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6 Cowboys who could be shocking cuts before the 2022 regular season

Sometimes it’s about who’s better. But sometimes there are other factors at play when it comes to the initial 53-man roster. @KDDrummondNFL looks at a few names that would raise an eyebrow if let go.

The Dallas Cowboys may not be as deep as they have been in years past, but that doesn’t mean they will have an easier time when it comes to putting together their 53-man roster. There are still decisions to make for Stephen Jones, Will McClay and head coach Mike McCarthy that include talent, but go beyond who the best player is right now (or in three weeks).

In addition to who offers the best performance, the team will be looking to ensure they don’t say goodbye to potential they want to continue harnessing. Beyond that there is the injury factor for guys the club may look to bring back during the season, and the rules to which those maneuvers can happen. Mixed all together and there could be some interesting decisions made come August 30. Here’s a look at six players who could be on the outside looking in at the initial 53-man roster.

Former Clemson D-lineman gets new deal with NFL team

A former Clemson defensive lineman is staying with “America’s Team” for another season. The Dallas Cowboys announced this week that they’ve agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran defensive tackle Carlos Watkins. The former Tiger proved to …

A former Clemson defensive lineman is staying with “America’s Team” for another season.

The Dallas Cowboys announced this week that they’ve agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran defensive tackle Carlos Watkins.

The former Tiger proved to be a solid pickup for the Cowboys after they signed him to a one-year deal ahead of the 2021 season, during which he made 14 starts and finished with 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and had a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints.

Originally drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth round (142nd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, Watkins spent the first four years of his NFL career (2017-20) in Houston, recording a total of 74 tackles and four sacks.

During his Clemson career (2012-16), the two-time first-team All-ACC selection had 191 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in 1,666 snaps over 53 games (30 starts). He had 24 career games with at least one tackle for loss, and Clemson was 22-2 in those games.

Former Clemson safety Jayron Kearse also re-signed with the Cowboys this week.

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks