Oakland Raiders: Five Worst Draft Day Whiffs Of The Reggie McKenzie Era
By Kevin Saito
Menelik Watson is a tale of seriously untapped potential. That and injuries getting in the way of what could have been a very promising career.
At 6’5”, 315 lbs., Watson was considered too short to play basketball, but given that he was a monster, he fit right in on a football field. A native of England, he played American football for the first time – for a season at Saddleback College before transferring to Florida State, where he started 12 of the team’s 13 games and allowed just one sack.
Feeling pretty good about himself, Watson declared for the 2013 NFL Draft and was scooped up by Reggie McKenzie in the second round. Though lacking experience, Watson had the size and showed enough potential to justify such a high pick.
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In three seasons with the Raiders though, Watson could never stay healthy – or effective – enough to stay on the field. He was active for just five games (three starts) in 2013, 12 games (nine starts) in 2014, missed the entire 2015 season with an injury, and played in 10 games (five starts) last season.
When he was healthy and on the field, Watson showed some real potential. Had it not been for injury, it’s very likely he would have taken the right tackle position away from Austin Howard. Likely very easily.
Unfortunately for Watson and the Raiders though, Watson could never stay healthy enough. They let him walk away after last season and the Denver Broncos were there waiting to snatch him up.
For a second round pick, McKenzie and the Raiders just didn’t get very much return on the investment.