NY Jets standout rookie UDFA expected to make the 53-man roster

A number of NY Jets rookies have made a positive impact through the first few weeks of training camp so far, but one under-the-radar name who seems to be solidifying his roster status is undrafted rookie Eric Watts.

While flashier and more high-profile rookies like Olu Fashanu, Malachi Corley, and Braelon Allen have dominated headlines, Watts has quietly been stacking positive days and seems to be on track to make the Jets' 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent.

That was the sentiment shared by The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt on Wednesday, who reported "it feels like a safe bet" that Watts will make the Jets' roster coming out of training camp.

Rosenblatt cited Watts' team-high signing bonus and the verbiage used by the Jets' coaching staff, more specifically defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, as reasons why the Connecticut product is likely to stick around.

"Thank the Lord he didn’t get drafted. For us to get a guy like him, his physical tools, he’s a great human being, hard worker, very intelligent young man … You can see over the last couple of weeks, the light is starting to come on. And then you see him flashing his speed coming off the edge or his speed going down the field chasing. He has the traits and the abilities we find important up front and I’m excited to see him continue to build on what he’s doing."

Aaron Whitecotton

Eric Watts seems like a lock for the NY Jets' roster

The Jets clearly had high expectations for Watts when they gave him a whopping $245,000 in guarantees as a signing bonus. That number not only ranked first among all Jets UDFAs, but it was the second-most guarantees given to an undrafted defensive lineman this year.

Former five-star recruit Leonard Taylor received more fanfare upon signing with the Jets given his pedigree, and while Taylor still has a chance to make the 53-man roster, Watts has the edge right now. He was an excellent prospect in his own right.

At 6-foot-5, 274 pounds, Watts functions as a bit of a tweener in the same mold as someone like John Franklin-Myers. The Jets could view him as someone who can eventually take over JFM's role down the line.

A three-year starter at Connecticut, Watts broke out with a seven-sack season in 2022 only to see his production dip dramatically in 2023. That likely caused his draft stock to fall, although most still assumed he would be a Day 3 pick.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler broke down Watts' untapped potential in his pre-draft scouting report:

"Watts is a frenetic pass rusher and still figuring out how to properly unlock all his power, but the physical traits and competitive mentality are there for him to become a valuable part of a defensive line rotation with additional coaching. He might never put it all together, but he is worth a Day 3 draft pick to find out. "

Dane Brugler

With an ideal NFL frame, excellent physical traits, and a hot motor, Watts has all the potential to carve out a long career in the NFL. The Jets are certainly happy that they were able to snag him as an undrafted free agent.

Watts hasn't made any splash plays so far this summer. He wasn't one of the more noticeable standouts from Saturday's preseason opener. But if you were to craft a Jets 53-man roster prediction right now, his name should be included.

More NY Jets news and analysis: