KC Chiefs Free Agency: Chiefs Re-Signing WR Justin Watson
While it may not be the NFL-changing wide receiver update some fans are hoping to see from the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chiefs are making an addition to their wide receiver depth chart, bringing back WR Justin Watson for the 2023 season. Per Watson's agents, JL Sports, the veteran is re-signing in Kansas City on a two-year deal.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Watson's contract is worth $3.5 million and has $1.4M guaranteed. There's a maximum potential value via incentives and escalators for the two-year payout to be $6M.
Watson, who recently turned 27, proved to be a valuable piece of KC's offense in 2022. He appeared in 19 of the Chiefs' 20 games last season, missing only the AFC Championship Game, which he was inactive for after missing practices during the week due to an illness.
Watson caught one pass for 12 yards in KC's Divisional Round win over the Jaguars and two catches for 18 yards in Super Bowl LVII. Watson played in all 17 regular season games for the Chiefs in 2022, ending the season with 15 receptions for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
While his numbers weren't eye-popping, Watson converted 12 first downs on his 15 regular-season receptions and played 494 snaps (42.99% of KC's offensive snaps) in 2022. Only Marquez Valdes-Scantling (777) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (765) played more offensive snaps as a wide receiver for Kansas City.
It seems evident that the Chiefs would like to see wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore take on larger roles in 2023, but Toney's health and Moore's inexperience provide cause for caution. Meanwhile, Smith-Schuster is now a member of the New England Patriots and the Chiefs' wide receiver depth chart remains thin (even with the team's recent Richie James signing) while the NFL world waits on news regarding DeAndre Hopkins. The upcoming 2023 NFL Draft could present an opportunity for another player to be added at the position, but the Watson re-signing serves as quality depth in the meantime.
