Maryland LB Tre Watson signs with Miami Dolphins as undrafted free agent

Tre Watson wasn’t selected in the 2019 NFL Draft over the weekend, but was picked up by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.

Watson tweeted that he had signed with the Washington Redskins on Saturday evening, only to delete that tweet and post another one about him heading to Miami.

Safety Darnell Savage Jr., defensive lineman Byron Cowart, running back Ty Johnson and offensive lineman Derwin Gray were all selected in the draft. Watson, who most scouts pegged as a fourth or fifth-round prospect, never came off the board, despite having more interceptions than anyone at his position and more tackles than all but one linebacker drafted Saturday.

Watson enters the league after leading the Big Ten with five interceptions and 9.6 tackles per game last season. He spent one year with the Terps after transferring from Illinois and quickly became a leader on the team, coming up in big moments such as a fourth-quarter interception against Texas on Sept. 1 to seal an upset victory.

The Tampa, Florida, native was underestimated and underrated throughout the process leading up to the draft, not even receiving an NFL combine invite. And while his impressive stats last season, as well as his pro day performance, led to visits with numerous teams, Watson fell all the way out of the draft.

He’ll now have a chance to prove people wrong in the NFL, and his drive and work ethic will give him a chance to see some playing time. He’s no stranger to the business of football, having had nine coaches in nine years of college and high school, and he’s shown he can succeed through all of it.