Athletes come in all different shapes and sizes, and that is particularly true in a sport like football. The disparity between the largest and smallest players on NFL rosters makes it almost impossible to fathom that they play the same sport.
Currently, the smallest player in the NFL is Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn, who is listed at 5-foot-5, 176 pounds. Meanwhile, the largest player currently on an NFL roster is Ravens’ tackle Daniel Faalele, who stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs in at 384 pounds.
The latter title could be handed over to someone else pretty soon, though, as a prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class is nearly 100 pounds heavier than the Austrailian-born Faalele.
Meet Florida Gators defensive lineman Desmond Watson.
During his performance at the Florida Gators ‘ Pro Day on Thursday, Watson measured in at 6-foot-6 and tipped the scales at 464 pounds—which would make him the heaviest player in NFL history.
The heaviest players ever drafted were 380 pounds: offensive linemen Trent Brown (Florida, 2015) and Daniel Faalele (Minnesota, 2022). Watson is 86 pounds heavier than either of those guys, and the scary part is that his gargantuan size doesn’t seem to limit his athleticism as much as some would expect.
Here’s a look at Watson’s Pro Day numbers:
40-Yard Dash: 5.93
Vertical Jump: 25″
Bench Press (225 LBS): 36 reps
A 464-pound man clearing six seconds in the 40 is incredible, and his 25″ vertical would’ve tied him with Deone Walker, who weighs in at just 331 pounds.
Watson’s calling card, obviously, is his strength, and on Thursday he showed out in a big way with 36 reps on bench press (225 pounds)—a mark that would’ve surpassed the top performer at the combine by three reps.
“Dez, obviously, he’s a unicorn,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “You’ll go the rest of your career and you’ll never be around a guy that’s that stature. And then you get to know Dez. He’s extremely intelligent. He’s got a great sense of humor. He was a great teammate.”
Some people might be worried that a man of his stature just isn’t doing what’s necessary to take care of himself, but that’s hardly the case, according to Napier.
“He’s had numerous nutritionists, numerous position coaches, numerous strength coaches, and I think this past year we probably executed the best we have,” Napier said. “And I thought he played his best football of his career. In general, I think he’s learned a lot about habit-building, self-discipline.
“Ultimately, the guy’s frame score would indicate that he’s going to be a huge — that number’s always going to be pretty big. He’s 6-foot-6 and just the density, the bone structure. It’s just a big man.”
There just aren’t many guys out there built like Watson, and that makes him a very intriguing prospect to watch in next month’s draft.
