St. Louis Rams Closing Evaluations: What Grades Do the Running Backs Receive?

Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Trey Watts: The amount of exposure that Trey Watts, an undrafted rookie from Tulsa, got during 2014 had to surprise everyone, including Watts. As the 23-year-old walked off the field with a young member of the Rams’ kids club, who likely saw him as a big star, Watts confided in his young fan something to the effect of, “I’m just trying to make the team. I hope I make it…”.

After a late preseason surge, Watts indeed cracked the roster, and for a time he found himself ahead of fellow rookie and eventual starter Tre Mason on the depth chart. Due to Watts’s ability to contribute on special teams, he dressed for 14 of the Rams’ 16 games, and starting in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, he began to see action on offense. In his most extensive chance from scrimmage of the year, Watts ran for 24 yards on five carries.

His offensive opportunities tailed off significantly as Mason began to claim a role, but Watts did collect offensive statistics in two other games and finished the year with seven carries for 30 yards and three catches for 18 yards. He was also one of the team’s top special teams contributors, finishing with nine tackles in the kicking game.

While Watts didn’t have a huge role during 2014, he was a very solid player whenever he was given opportunities, and he far exceeded the expectations that were placed on him as a rather unheard-of rookie free agent.

GRADE: A

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