Antonio Watts CB Louisville |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #9 ROLE: Slot/Nickel Zone CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.67 seconds (4%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jersey: #9 | |
| ROLE: Slot/Nickel Zone CB | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.67 seconds (4%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
66.8 / 100
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
71% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 52.6 | |
| Tackling: |
|
57% |
| Run Defense: |
|
61% |
| Coverage: |
|
72% |
| Zone: |
|
70% |
| Man/Press: |
|
70% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#888
Position rank:
#97 (DB)
|
||
| College Games: 39 College Snaps: 1741 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
|
||
|
247 RATING: 83/100
|
||
RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ja'von Hicks - Cincinnati |
|
91% |
| Deshawn Pace - UCF |
|
84% |
| Latavious Brini - Arkansas |
|
81% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Antonio Watts made 104 tackles, four interceptions and 21 pass breakups as a senior at Columbus Carver in Georgia, earning first-team Class 4A all-state honors. A three-star safety, he chose Louisville over Syracuse in the 2022 class.Watts redshirted in 2022 and made 28 tackles and six tackles for loss as a reserve linebacker in 2023. He moved into the lineup for 13 starts in 2024, making 51 tackles, and broke up the deciding two-point attempt in a 35-34 win over Washington. His 2025 season included 10 starts at the STAR position, a linebacker and safety hybrid, where he had three interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Watts earned honorable mention All-ACC honors before a knee injury against Clemson on 14 November ended his season.
Reports in early January 2026 had Watts entering the portal, but he reversed course within a day. He started the first three games of his fifth season, with three hurries at Ole Miss, before a reported season-ending knee injury.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Three interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2025
- Broke up the deciding two-point try against Washington in 2024
- Effective blitzer with seven hurries and three sacks in 2025
- Three-year starter with experience at linebacker and safety
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Reported out for the season with a knee injury
- Also hurt his knee against Clemson in November 2025
- Lacks the speed teams want from a defensive back
- Missed 12 tackles in 2025 and three at Ole Miss this year
- Played only three games in 2026 before his reported injury
Scouting Report: Summary
Watts is a big, versatile hybrid defender who was a productive starter at Louisville. He finds the football, with three interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2025, and he can rush the passer from the STAR spot.However, he has injured his knee in two straight seasons, and his 2026 season was reportedly cut short after three games. He is also very slow for a defensive back and misses too many tackles.
Overall, Watts is a productive college player whose speed and health will keep him off most boards. He projects as a priority free agent at best.
How other scouting services rate Antonio Watts (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
430.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
86.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.