We are in the home stretch with part 84 of our 90ish-part series — assuming the roster does not change before we are complete — which will break down each player of the Steelers current 90-man (now 80-man) roster in alphabetical order. This series will encompass many aspects of each players game and their current role with the team. At the end, I’ll give some projected stats as well as their chances to make the 53-man roster.

Lets take a look at former LA Charger

LLet’s take a look at former

Derek Watt

Position: FB
Height: 6’ 2”
Weight: 234 lbs
College: Wisconsin
Draft: 6th round 198th overall in 2016 (Chargers)

2019 Stats

16 Games played
7 Attempts
10 Rushing yards
1 Rushing touchdown
3 Receptions
32 Receiving yards
16 Special team tackles

Contract remaining

Expires in 2023
$2,083,333 salary cap number (1% of total cap)
$1,083,333 Dead money each of the next 3 seasons
$1,000,000 Savings if cut

Likelihood of making the roster

Lock. The Steelers didn't just shell out $10 million to a player just to cut him 12 weeks later. Derek Watt will be as big a contributor as any fullback across the NFL. The Steelers run game is so much better when they have a guy like Watt on the field. We saw it last year when Rosie Nix was injured and the Steelers running game really seemed to struggle. Watt should also get a target or two on a weekly basis as he is making more money than all of the other running backs and receivers.

2020 projection

I think the Steelers expect Watt to be the special teams ace, and contributor on offense. He will get a fair share of offensive snaps and I fully expect Watt to feature on every special teams unit. The question remains how involved will the Steelers get a fullback in its offense. The 49ers have the blue print in how they use Kyle Juszczyk, and the Steelers would be foolish not too, at the very least, watch how they use him.

Projected stats:

16 Games played
12 Attempts
45 Rushing yards
1 Rushing touchdown
10 Receptions
70 Receiving yards
16 Special team tackles

Summary

The signing of Derek Watt could have been a clever way to make T.J. Watt more inclined to re-sign in Pittsburgh. it may also be a chess piece in the 2021 J.J. Watt sweepstakes and unite the three brothers. But what it defiantly was, was an addition of a good football player. the middle Watt brother makes his mark on the game in a much more low profile way compared to his superstar brothers but he is an impact player in his own right the will likely make his first Pro Bowl in 2020 (T.J. and J.J. tried to rally the online voters last year but playing for one of the smallest fan bases at the time held him back).

I’m excited to watch T.J. and Derek Watt play on the same team again and one could only hope that big brother J.J. joins them one day. At the very least it would be really good for viewership and easy marketing for the Steelers!

Previously Highlighted

Ola Adeniyi
Marcus Allen
Tyson Alualu
Trajan Bandy
Zach Banner
J.T. Barrett -Cut
John Battle
Jordan Berry
Saeed Blacknall
Breon Borders
Chris Boswell
Antoine Brooks Jr.
Isaiah Buggs
Devin Bush
Deon Cain
Kam Canaday
Chase Claypool
Josiah Coatney -Cut
James Conner
Anthony Coyle
Jordan Dangerfield
Amara Darboh
Carlos Davis
David DeCastro
Christian DiLauro
Kevin Dotson
Bud Dupree
Eric Ebron
Terrell Edmunds
Trey Edmunds
Matt Feiler
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Zach Gentry
Ulysees Gilbert III
Derwin Gray
Joe Haden
J.C. Hassenauer
Quadree Henderson -Cut
Dewayne Hendrix -Cut
Cam Heyward
Alex Highsmith
Mike Hilton
Devlin Hodges
John Houston -Cut
Anthony Johnson
Diontae Johnson
Jarron Jones
John Keenoy
Tyree Kinnel -Cut
Christian Kuntz -Cut
Justin Layne
Leo Lewis
James Lockhart
Paxton Lynch
Dan McCullers
Vance McDonald
Anthony McFarland Jr.
Henry Mondeaux
Christian Montano -Cut
Alexander Myres
Steven Nelson
Spencer Nigh -Cut
Chuks Okorafor
James Pierre
Maurkice Pouncey
Kevin Rader
Dax Raymond
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph
Jaylen Samuels
Tuzar Skipper
Wendall Smallwood
Juju Smith-Schuster
Benny Snell Jr.
Robert Spillane
Cameron Sutton
Ryan Switzer
Calvin Taylor
Stephon Tuitt
Alejandro Villanueva
Corliss Waitman
Cavon Walker
James Washington