NFL Clemson Tigers: Carlos Watkins Looking for Payday

Dec 19, 2021; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Carlos Watkins (91) celebrates after a defensive play against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2021; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Carlos Watkins (91) celebrates after a defensive play against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Former Clemson defensive tackle Carlos Watkins is an unrestricted free agent as the NFL’s league year comes into focus.

Watkins, 28, spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys after spending his first four in Houston.

Watkins outperformed the one year, $1.5  million dollar contract he signed with the Cowboys, reaching career highs in tackles and tackles for loss, not to mention a pick six.

Watkins is 28, so he’s on the older side for an NFL defensive lineman, but all indications are that he’s in for one more at least one more pay day.

Watkins thrived in the Cowboys 4-3 scheme, racking up 32 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits and the pick six.

At his best Watkins is an interior defensive tackle and generally fits better with teams that run a 4-3 scheme.

Whether Watkins returns to the Cowboys or not remains a question, but look for Watkins to sign with a team with a similar scheme that plays to his strengths on the interior.

The six-foot three, three hundred and nine pound Watkins spent five years at Clemson accumulating 110 total tackles, including 24.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and an interception which he returned for a touchdown.

As a sophomore in 2013, Watkins played in three games with one start, before being involved in a car crash which caused blood clots in both of his legs that ended his season and Watkins medically redshirted the rest of the season.

At the time there was a question as to whether he would ever return to football, so to see him succeed and thrive in the NFL is especially meaningful.

Watkins finished his Clemson career as part of the 2016 National Championship team as a part of the celebrated defensive line.

NFL Free agency begins March 16 at 1 p.m. ET. Agents for pending free-agent players, however, are permitted to negotiate with prospective teams beginning March 14 at noon ET.

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