Former Clemson DL Has a New NFL Home
By: Robert MacRae August 16, 2024

There’s a new NFL home for this former Clemson defensive lineman.

Carlos Watkins has signed with the Los Angeles Rams, the team announced this week.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle joins the Rams after playing with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, when his season ended prematurely after he suffered a season-ending biceps injury in Week 2.

Watkins has also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys (2021-22) and Houston Texans (2017-20) since being selected by Houston in the fourth round (142nd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

In his NFL career, the 30-year-old Watkins has played in 71 games with 37 starts while compiling 139 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Watkins was a major impact player for Clemson’s defense during his college career (2012-16), particularly in his last two seasons as a starter.

The two-time first-team All-ACC selection, 2016 All-American and 2016 national champion had 191 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 14 sacks over 53 games (30 starts) in his career. He had 24 career games with at least one tackle for loss, with the Tigers going 22-2 in those games.

–Photo courtesy Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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