Carlos Watkins

4th round pick in 2017.

PRO: In looking to bolster their defensive line, the Dallas Cowboys signed Carlos Watkins during 2021 free agency. Watkins arrives in Dallas after playing the first four seasons of his career with Houston, following his selection by the Texans in the fourth round (142nd overall) in 2017. Watkins has played in 42 games with 18 career starts for Houston and has logged 74 tackles, 4.0 sacks, five tackles for losses, five hurries, five breakups and two fumble recoveries in that span.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY:

3/22/21: Signed with Dallas as an unrestricted free agent through 2021.

4/29/17: Drafted in the fourth round (142nd overall) by Houston.

2020 (Houston):

• Played in all 16 games for the first time in his career - starting a career-high 11 - and finished with 27 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two tackles for losses, two hurries, three breakups and a fumble recovery.
• Posted a sack at Pittsburgh (9/27) and had a season-high four stops at Chicago (12/13).
• Added his second sack of the season with a season-high tying four tackles against Tennessee (1/3/21).

2019 (Houston):

• Played in 10 games with one start and notched 23 tackles, one sack, two hurries, a breakup and a fumble recovery.
• Had two stops and a breakup in the opener at New Orleans (9/9), then recovered his first career fumble in the game against Carolina (9/29).
• Notched his sack at Jacksonville (11/3), then had a career-best six tackles in the finale against Tennessee (12/29) in which he started.
• Made his postseason debut in the Wild Card Game against Buffalo (1/4/20) but did not have any stats.

2018 (Houston):

• Played in just four games - inactive for 12 - and logged three tackles, one sack and a hurry.
• All of his stats came in the season finale against Jacksonville (12/30).

2017 (Houston):

• Played in 12 games with six starts as a rookie to finish with 21 tackles, three for losses, and a breakup.
• Made his NFL debut and logged his first career tackle against Tennessee (10/1).
• Earned his first career start and finished against Indianapolis (11/5) with three stops and his first tackle for a loss.

COLLEGE:

• In five seasons at Clemson (2012-16), tallied 191 tackles, 26 for losses and 14.0 sacks in 53 games with 30 starts.
• As a senior in 2016, notched 82 tackles, 13.5 for loss, 10.5 sacks - tops by a school tackle - starting all 15 games.
• Registered 69 tackles, eight for losses and 3.5 sacks, starting 14-of-15 games played as a junior in 2015.
• In 2014 as a redshirt sophomore, had 13 tackles, two for losses and four pressures in 11 games. 
• Posted 11 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a pressure in three games, missing the remainder of the season following a car accident as a sophomore in 2013 and received a redshirt.
• As a freshman in 2012, notched 16 tackles, one for a loss and three pressures in nine games.

PERSONAL:

• Ranked as the seventh defensive lineman in the nation out of Chase High School in Forest City, N.C., logging 15.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and an interception as a senior.
• Averaged over 21 points and 10 rebounds-per-game for Chase's basketball team.
• Earned his degree in sociology at Clemson.