2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Notre Dame S Xavier Watts
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Xavier Watts | S | Notre Dame
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 204 lbs
Draft Projection: Round 2
Notable Accomplishment: 2023 & 2024 AP First-Team All-American
Pros: One of the most instinctual defenders in the 2025 class, Watts is a true ball-hawk who has a great feel for breaking on the ball and creating turnovers. His read-and-react speed is one of the highlights of his game, and it sets him apart from most players at his position. When it comes to versatility, he has proven an ability to succeed in practically any package and any alignment, displaying maturity up high, in the box, or even in the slot. One of the things I appreciate the most about Watts, however, is his technical cleanliness. He is smart with his hands, he gets close in one-on-one coverage without being too physical, and he takes smart tackling angles when coming downhill. I also love Watts’ pre-snap thought process. He diagnoses plays before the snap and reacts on them quickly. That is hardly teachable.
Cons: Despite respectable size and outstanding ball skills, Watts is not an elite athlete. He is more than sufficient in almost every athletic category, but you do not want him covering a WR1 on an island by himself. He needs to learn to sink his hips deeper when backpedaling, as it will increase his change-of-direction quickness and allow him to break on the ball even quicker. Although I do not see any major flaws in Watts’ tackling against the run, he can still get caught taking the bait of a double-move in the open field against a receiver. His incredible instincts can be a two-edged sword at times, however, as he will either overrun a play by breaking too quickly or fail to remain subtle about his diagnosis.
Overview: Watts is a guy I like but struggle to love. There is no defining trait in his game that could turn him into a superstar aside from maybe his instincts, but on the same token, his consistency and ball production should allow him to see plenty of playing time as a rookie.
NFL Comparison: Jevon Holland
