BEREA — The Cleveland Browns drafted Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson with the 206th pick of the 2024 NFL draft. Watson, a 6-foot-2 prospect who spent six years with the Bulldogs, was the 18th linebacker off the board. Here's what Browns fans need to know about Watson and our instant analysis of the pick.
The last time the Browns took a defensive player from Mississippi State it turned out pretty well for them. That was cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. in the third round of the 2022 draft. They're hoping that works out the same with Watson, who was taken two years and three rounds later. On the field, he has a chance to fill a need for the Browns at linebacker, where they remain somewhat thin due to some notable departures. The big, bruising tackler led the SEC with 137 tackles and 10 sacks. However, Watson does have off-the-field red flags due to multiple arrests that no doubt led to him dropping.
Watson was a tackling machine for the Bulldogs, which helped him become a finalist last season for the Butkus Award, which goes to the top college linebacker. He was a third-team All-American as a senior, as well as the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year. Over his final two seasons with the Bulldogs, Watson had 250 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.
Watson measured at 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds while at the NFL combine in February.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns pick Nathaniel Watson in Round 6 of NFL draft. Expert analysis
