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Jaylen Watson Drafted in Seventh Round by Chiefs

Apr 30, 2022

LAS VEGAS (April 30, 2022) - Washington State cornerback Jaylen Watson was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday.
 
Watson is the first Cougar defensive back selected in the NFL Draft since safety Jalen Thompson was taken in the fifth round of the 2019 Supplemental Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and is the first WSU cornerback drafted since Karl Paymah was taken in the third round by the Denver Broncos in 2005. Watson, taken as the No. 243 overall pick and No. 23 in the round, is the first Cougar drafted by the Chiefs since wide receiver Kitrick Taylor was selected in the fifth round of the 1987 NFL Draft.
 
Watson started all 15 games he played in during his two seasons at Washington State after playing the 2017-18 seasons at Ventura College. The Augusta, Ga. native was a two-time All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention selection and tallied 44 tackles with two for loss, five pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a pair of interceptions.
 
This past season, Watson finished 2021 second in the country with four fumble recoveries and posted 31 tackles with three pass breakups and two interceptions. Watson matched a career-high with six tackles against USC, picked off a pass in wins at California and at Arizona State, recovered two fumbles at Oregon and made five stops in the Apple Cup win.