Markees Watts Bio
Markees Watts (born December 7, 1999) is an American former professional football linebacker who spent time in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Charlotte 49ers and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at 240 pounds, Watts built his career on defensive pressure and special teams work before retiring from the league in 2026.
Across his professional career, Watts appeared in 27 games for the Buccaneers as a core special-teams contributor and defensive reserve. After three seasons in Tampa Bay, he signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2026 before announcing his retirement from professional football the same spring.
Early Life and Background
Watts was born on December 7, 1999, and grew up in Lancaster, South Carolina, where he developed his early passion for football. He attended Lancaster High School, the same community that shaped his identity as a young athlete. The small-town South Carolina setting gave him a steady platform to grow as both a student and a competitor on the gridiron.
At Lancaster High School, Watts emerged as one of the region’s most disruptive defensive players. He earned back-to-back regional defensive player of the year awards during his sophomore and junior seasons, a stretch in which he compiled 27 sacks. Those honors quickly established him as a dominant force along the defensive line and a player opposing offenses had to account for on every snap.
Watts’ senior season, however, was cut short when he suffered a season-ending injury on the very first play of the year. Despite that setback, his prior production left a strong impression, and he was rated as a two-star recruit coming out of high school. He ultimately chose to continue his football career at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, joining the Charlotte 49ers program.
Path to Professional Football
Watts joined the Charlotte 49ers in 2018 as a true freshman and immediately got his first taste of college football. He played all 12 games during his debut season and finished the year with two tackles, an early but important step in adapting to the speed and physicality of the college game.
His development accelerated in his second season, when he started all 13 games for the 49ers. He placed third in Conference USA with 9.5 sacks and earned honorable mention All-Conference USA recognition, marking his first significant conference-wide accolade. That breakout campaign confirmed his ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks at the college level.
The 2020 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Watts played only five games, starting one. He bounced back in 2021, starting all 12 games and leading the 49ers in tackles for loss with 9.0 while ranking second on the team with 4.0 sacks. After exhausting his college eligibility, Watts declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and ultimately signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Markees Watts Career
Early Career at Tampa Bay (2023–2025)
Watts signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023, beginning his professional career with a franchise known for its defensive tradition. Coming off a productive Charlotte career, he focused on carving out a role on special teams while continuing to develop as a pass rusher. His versatility made him a useful depth piece on Tampa Bay’s roster.
Across three seasons with the Buccaneers, Watts appeared in 27 games as a primary special-teams contributor. Through the 2025 season, he had recorded 13 total tackles and 1.5 sacks in his NFL career, reflecting the limited but steady defensive role he maintained in Tampa Bay.
Cleveland Browns Era (2026)
On May 19, 2026, Watts signed with the Cleveland Browns, opening a new chapter in his professional journey. The move gave him an opportunity to compete for a defensive role within a different defensive scheme and to continue his special-teams workload.
His time with the Browns, however, was brief. On June 2, 2026, Watts announced his retirement from professional football, bringing his NFL career to a close just weeks after joining Cleveland.
Driving Style and Strengths
Watts was known primarily as an edge rusher and special-teams contributor during his time in the NFL. His compact frame and quick first step allowed him to be effective as a situational pass rusher, particularly evident in his 1.5 career sacks and his 9.5-sack college season at Charlotte. As a special teamer, his tackling reliability and motor gave Tampa Bay a dependable option on coverage and return units.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Watts’ career came during his sophomore season at Lancaster High School, when his 27 sacks across two years earned him consecutive regional defensive player of the year awards. His 9.5-sack sophomore campaign at Charlotte, which placed him third in Conference USA, stands as his most decorated college season. Signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 also marked a major milestone, validating his perseverance through a senior-year injury and four college seasons.
Markees Watts Career Stats
Markees Watts’ professional production came primarily through special-teams play and rotational defensive snaps across three NFL seasons. The numbers below summarize his verified production as a Buccaneer through the 2025 season.
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Games Played (Buccaneers) | 27 |
| Total Tackles | 13 |
| Sacks | 1.5 |
| Forced Fumbles | 0 |
Markees Watts Personal Life
Markees Watts was raised in Lancaster, South Carolina, and has remained closely tied to that community throughout his football journey. His roots in Lancaster shaped his early development, from Lancaster High School through his college recruitment by the Charlotte 49ers. The South Carolina upbringing continues to be a defining part of his identity.
Public details about his immediate family, marital status, or children are not confirmed in available sources, and those sections have been intentionally omitted. Watts has kept his personal life largely private, with most publicly available information focused on his football career.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season, Watts continued in his role as a primary special-teamer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He remained a steady presence on coverage units while occasionally contributing as a rotational pass rusher along the defensive front. His consistency helped solidify Tampa Bay’s depth on special teams throughout the year.
Across the 2025 campaign, Watts’ defensive opportunities were limited but productive, as reflected in his updated career totals of 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His work on special teams remained the cornerstone of his value to the Buccaneers’ roster.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Watts’ career took a new turn when he signed with the Cleveland Browns in May 2026 before retiring from professional football weeks later. The 2025 season thus stands as the final full professional year of his NFL career.