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2022 UDFA Player Profiles: UMass DB Bryce Watts

— Elite long speed consistently shows up when tracking down ball carriers from the weak side or closing to the catch point from out of phase
— Consistently shows elite effort in rallying to the football on a play to play basis, never takes plays off and consistently helps limit explosive plays
— Great physicality and technique as an open field tackler, does a great job of limiting YAC
— Quick trigger in defending the run game, screen game, and quick passing game, trusts his eyes and closes downhill with rapidly
— Comfortable locating and playing the football downfield when in phase, plays through the hands well to separate receivers from the football at the catch point
— Plenty of special teams experience, has all of the traits to become an effective gunner and provide spark to kick coverage units
— Has solid hips to complement his great straight line speed
— Solid click and close ability when driving routes from off coverage
— Played arguably the best game of his 2021 season in a road opener against Pitt, showing his ability to compete against top competition
— Played the field corner spot at UMass, should ease his transition to defending NFL hashes

— Has a tendency to open the gate prematurely in press coverage, relying on his superior athleticism to stay in phase with receivers
— Lack of starting experience and ideal ball production at the collegiate level could lead to a significant learning curve in his transition to the next level
— Will pedal too quickly at the snap from time to time, taking himself out of position to contest quick game routes
— Will likely need to continue filling out his frame to deal with bigger receivers at the next level
— Could stand to improve mechanics in his crossover run, was noticeably more comfortable in a backpedal
— Was part of a rotation in the secondary, did not play every snap in his lone starting season at Umass

— 72 tackles 2 INTs 13 PDs
— 2021: 43 tackles 1 INT 5 PDs
— Appeared in 25 games and made 12 starts at Virginia Tech before transferring to North Carolina and sitting out the 2019 season
— Has two seasons of full time starting experience, those being 2018 at Virginia Tech and 2021 at Umass Amherst
— Attended the East-West Shrine Bowl but did not participate in practices or the game with a minor injury

After an active free agency period, in which the team signed former Buffalo Bill Levi Wallace before resigning Ahkello Witherspoon after his productive finish to the 2021 season, Colbert and company opted to forgo addressing the cornerback position in the draft.