Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson.
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.
Since taking over as general manager in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has made 61 selections in the NFL Draft. Out of those 61 picks, three of them played at Mississippi State. Those three picks are tied with Georgia for most picks by school during the Gutekunst era.
If Green Bay’s general manager is going to dip his toes back in the Mississippi State talent pool a player that he could target is Nathaniel Watson. The Bulldog linebacker checks in at No. 64 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
Watson became a full-time starter for the Bulldogs in 2021 and responded with 83 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks. The following season, Watson recorded 113 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks and one interception.
This past season Watson was named the AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year after he recorded an SEC-leading 137 tackles to go along with 13 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and one interception.
“The Mississippi State defense was shaky at times, but it would’ve plummeted if not for Watson,” Stefan Krajisnik, the Mississippi State reporter for the Clarion Ledger, said. “In terms of value, you’d be hard-pressed to find a player who meant as much to a defense as Watson. Throughout his career he showed the ability to collect tackles, but especially in 2023, he proved he can blow up plays and change drives.”
Watson was all over the field for the Bulldogs this past season. He closed out his career with a bang. During the final two games, Watson recorded 42 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. He has a high batting average as a tackler. According to Pro Football Focus, Watson was charged with just six missed tackles all season, with three of those coming in one game. He has strong hands to get the ball carrier to the ground.
“The numbers don’t lie,” Krajisnik said. “Watson’s greatest strength is his tackling. To get 137 tackles, you don’t miss many. He often found himself in the right spot at the right time, and more often than not, he made a play.”
Watson is at his best working north to south. He attacks downhill and he’s extremely disruptive within the tackle box. He trusts his eyes and explodes downhill to beat blockers to the spot to disrupt plays in the lane. The three-year starter was a disruptive force. He recorded 25 tackles for loss and 95 stops over the past two seasons.
“Watson does a good job of anticipating the run and anticipating which lane a running back is going to try to attack,” Krajisnik said. “His IQ is often on display because he seems to have a knack for where a play is headed. You saw that a ton against the run.”
Over the past two seasons, Watson recorded 16 sacks to go along with 64 pressures. He times things up perfectly as a blitzer and closes with burst.
Watson shows decent instincts in coverage. He has smooth footwork in his backpedal and is quick to close on routes.
“Coverage is an area where you’d still like to see some improvement from Watson,” Krajisnik said. “He’s not the fastest of linebackers. However, the two interceptions across his last two seasons suggest he can make some plays.”
Watson finished his career at Mississippi State with 576 snaps on special teams to his name. Even if he doesn’t crack the starting lineup as a rookie he could quickly develop into a core special teams player.
Fit with the Packers
Gutekunst is on record as saying they’d like to have veteran linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. Even if the Packers opt to keep Campbell, rather than cut him, they’ll need to add a linebacker or two to help round out the linebacker room with Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie.
Watson is a well-put-together linebacker that could make an impact on early downs, while also potentially developing into a star on special teams.
“I would draft Watson because all his potential is made evident by his numbers,” Krajisnik said. “When you’re the best player on an SEC defense – so much so that you earn defensive player of the year honors – teams make you a focus every week. Still, he was able to put up crazy numbers. There are going to be a lot of teams that regret letting him fall.”
With his size, toughness against the run and special teams experience, Watson would be a solid pick on Day 3 of the draft. The Packers need to add to their linebacker room and Watson has the potential to develop into a leader in the middle of a defense.
