The Miami Dolphins made a change at edge rusher this week.
According to the NFL transaction wire, the Dolphins signed Watts to their practice squad. To create space for new addition, Miami also released Amari Gainer.
The New York Jets signed Watts as an undrafted free agent in the 2024 class. The defensive end spent two seasons with the Jets before the team officially parted ways with him on an injury settlement in August.
Watts played 14 games as a rookie for the Jets, posting 13 combined tackles. He also had 10 combined tackles over four contests with the Jets last season.
During the 2024 draft process, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein argued the defensive end needed to show more consistency. But the draft analyst loved Watts’s size.
“Watts is loaded with measurables that teams search for but still light on consistency and skill level as a three-down option,” Zierlein wrote. “He will flash some edge when popping and pulling blocks or mixing it up with opponents, but he needs to become more proficient at beating blocks in front of him whether as a rusher or run defender.
“He’s high cut and plays a little too tall, which hurts his ability to impose his size and length with much-needed leverage. There might be upside to develop as a pass rusher, but it could come with even more weight on his frame and from an inside alignment.”
Dolphins Add Former Jets DE Eric Watts to Practice Squad
The Dolphins have other depth along the defensive line and edge on their practice squad. Keith Cooper Jr. and Mazi Smith are listed as the team’s defensive linemen on the practice squad while Max Llewellyn and Rodney McGraw are on the unit as edge rushers.
Interestingly, Watts is the only player the Dolphins have listed as a defensive end on the practice squad.
Watts entered the league after five years at UConn. In 47 games for the Huskies, he had 153 combined tackles, including 24 for loss. He also registered 10.5 sacks with four forced fumbles and one pass defense.
His best statistical season in college came during 2022 when he had 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Watts played a higher percentage of the Jets defensive snaps in his games for the team last season. But that was a small sample — four games. In his 14 contests during 2024, he played 231 defensive snaps, which was 24%. He also had 132 special teams snaps that season.
The injury Watts sustained in the 2026 preseason that led to his New York exit was undisclosed. The injury settlement, though, enabled the defensive end to join another team this fall.
The Dolphins will be his first new club since the settlement.
Miami will host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 on Sunday. It will be the team’s first opponent this season that has a loss.
Watts will be available to Miami as a practice squad elevation.
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