The 2025 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Xavier Watts NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Safety
School: Notre Dame
Size: 6-foot, 204 pounds
Class: Senior
2024 stats: 82 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 10 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 touchdown
Watts was a four-star recruit in the class of 2020 who signed with Notre Dame out of Nebraska. In his first season, he played receiver for the Fighting Irish, but didn’t see the field much. He switched to defense in 2021 and registered 15 tackles. He started seeing more consistent playing time in 2022, delivering 39 total tackles and four passes defended. His play helped the Fighting Irish win nine games. In 2023, he registered 52 tackles, seven interceptions and four passes defended. Notre Dame improved to 10 wins that season. For the 2024 season, he tallied 82 tackles, six interceptions and 10 passes defended. He led the Fighting Irish all the way to the National Championship Game.
Following the season, Watts has been preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft. He is a projected day-two pick.
Watts is a former wide receiver and his ball skills are a reflection of that. He tracks the ball well in the air and is able to go high-point the football. Watts attacks the catch point well too. He had plenty of ball production at the college level and will likely have plenty of opportunities for interceptions and passes defended. Watts also is a threat to return the ball with it in his hands.
His experience as a wide receiver really helps him understand how an offense is attacking him. He has good route recognition and anticipates throws before they happen. Watts sees the field clearly, which helps him be in good position. He also diagnoses run plays quickly, which helps him pursue the ball quickly.
He has good versatility for a safety. Watts was used as a single-high safety with good enough range to cover a lot of area. He was also used as a split safety as well, with the ability to cover his zone well. Watts has some man to man potential as well, but he is best when he is playing deep zone and can use his eyes.
He diagnoses run plays quickly, but can still struggle to support the run. Watts can get overaggressive and bite on misdirection. Although he has good effort in pursuit, he can take better angles to the football in order to better support the run. His tackling also limits his ability against the run.
As mentioned, his tackling isn’t up to par for other NFL Draft prospects at safety. He misses his fair share of tackles and lets offenses pick up more yardage than necessary. Watts can have better form tackling and wrap-up to make sure that opponents get to the ground rather than picking up extra yardage.
While he played man-to-man in college, he may struggle to do so at the next level against receivers. Receivers in the slot who run good routes could give him trouble, as he can struggle to mirror them. Watts is better used in deep zone coverage or in man-to-man against non-wide receivers.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
Draft Grade: Second Round Pick
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