’Backer Watson excited to be back with team
Dekoda Watson was celebrating his wedding anniversary last Saturday in California’s Napa Valley when his phone buzzed.
“Uh-oh,” he remembered thinking.
Very quickly, though, his outlook changed when he was informed the Broncos had acquired him from the San Francisco 49ers.
“I was (surprised), but it was all good the way it went,” Watson said at a Broncos community event Tuesday night. “I was thinking a lot worse when I got the call, but when they said, ‘Broncos,’ I was like, ‘OK.’ ”
The Broncos traded a fifthround pick (No. 148) and a sixthround pick (No. 212) to San Francisco. At No. 148, the 49ers drafted Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw. The Broncos used No. 212 to move up in the sixth round to select Colorado receiver Juwann Winfree.
Watson, who has one year remaining on his contract, played for the Broncos in 2016 and led the team in special-teams snaps (395) and tackles (11). He signed a two-year deal with San Francisco and led the 49ers in special-teams snaps in 2017 (288) but was limited to four games in 2018 because of hamstring and calf injuries.
Watson, 31, said returning to the Broncos’ facility this week “brought back great memories.”
In addition to playing outside linebacker, Watson will continue to be counted on to play special teams.
“I’m going to try to do everything in my power (to be a core special-teams player),” Watson said.
camp? Eleven teams will hold their rookie minicamps this weekend, and the Broncos are part of a 21-team group working May 10-12. After the draft last Saturday, coach Vic Fangio said the format for the Broncos’ rookie camp was “yet to be determined.”
“It will basically come down to the numbers and how many guys we can get in here,” he said. “What happens is you might be light at a certain position or two, so you have to adjust practice to a certain degree. But we’d like to get them on the field if we can and will in some shape or form.”
The draft picks and signed undrafted free agents are expected to be joined by tryout players.
The Broncos’ rookies will join the veterans May 13 for the first organized team activity. Miami and the Broncos will be the first teams to start OTAs. Broncos top 100. The Broncos’ involvement in celebrating the NFL’s 100th season will feature a “Fantennial Weekend” in mid-October. During the Broncos’ Oct. 13 home game against Tennessee, owner Pat Bowlen (represented by his family) and cornerback Champ Bailey will be presented Hall of Fame rings of excellence. Bowlen and Bailey will be inducted to the Hall on Aug. 3.
Also recognized on the field during the game will be members of the “Broncos Top 100 Team.” Fan voting for the top 100 team is now open at denverbroncos.com/broncos100 and will run until the end of May. The top 100 will be announced in mid-June.
Select members of the “Broncos Top 100 Team” will participate in fan events from Oct. 11-13 and be recognized on-field during the Broncos-Titans game.