WATCH: Shilo Sanders’ Teammate, Desmond Watson, Stands Out at Bucs Rookie Minicamp as NFL’s Heaviest Player

All eyes were on Shilo Sanders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie minicamp, but none drew more attention than defensive lineman Desmond Watson.

At 6-foot-6 and 437 pounds, Watson stood head and shoulders above the rest—literally and figuratively—emerging as the most physically imposing player on the field.

Desmond Watson Turns Heads at Buccaneers Rookie Minicamp

Signing with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent after a collegiate career with the Florida Gators, Watson is one of the most talked-about additions to the Buccaneers’ rookie group—not just for his size, but also for his dedication to change.

Having shed 27 pounds since his Pro Day in March, Watson arrived at camp with a renewed commitment to improving his conditioning. Sporting the No. 56 jersey, he didn’t just show up to participate—he came to make a statement.

TRENDING: NEW #BUCS DT DESMOND WATSON IS A HUMONGOUS HUMAN-BEING.

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Watson weighed 464 pounds and was 6 feet 6 inches pre-draft. We have never seen a player as large as Watson.
pic.twitter.com/US2m4FCPin

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball)

Head coach Todd Bowles addressed the media following the team’s first practice session on May 9 and acknowledged the uniqueness of Watson’s situation. “He’s got to make the team first all of all,” Bowles said. “Right now, we just got to see how long he can stay on the field and put him on a program where we think he can make some progress.”

The Buccaneers aren’t rushing the process. Instead, they’re focused on gradually improving Watson’s stamina and overall readiness. “We didn’t get him and say, ‘hey, we’ve got to put you on the field right now.’ It’s, ‘hey, we can try to put you on this program and see what we can come up with and see if we can get our endurance better’ and have him become a better player that way and then kind of see where he is,” Bowles continued.

The͏ B͏ucs͏’ investment in Watson shows their belief in his upside. Despite being undrafted,͏ He’s guaranteed $50,000 along with a $20,000 signing bonus. That commitment reflects confidence ͏in his͏ ͏ability to͏ eventually͏ contribute, whether on the 53͏-man roster͏ or the practice s͏͏quad.

During his 51 games with the Gators,͏ ͏Watson recorded a forced fumble, a fumble recovery,͏ ͏1.5 sacks,͏ 63 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a pass deflection.͏ Interestingly, during ͏his time in college, he never missed a͏ game.

Watson’s NFL journey began with questions about whether his massive frame could handle the demands of pro football. Those doubts fueled his transformation.

Now in Tampa Bay, surrounded by a deep and disciplined defensive unit, Watson has the rare opportunity to evolve into a niche contributor—plugging gaps, absorbing double teams, and adding unique value to the rotation. As the coaching staff continues monitoring his conditioning, the potential for Watson to grow into a reliable asset remains strong.