Former Saints TE Benjamin Watson is considering playing again in 2019

Earlier this offseason, veteran tight end Benjamin Watson made the announcement that he was retiring after 15 years in the league.

However, it appears that Watson may have the desire to extend his NFL career for another season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Veteran tight end Benjamin Watson, who intended to retire after last season, is now considering a return to the NFL for a 16th season, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.

Watson spent this past season with the Saints as his contract expired after the 2018 season. The team has appeared to be moving on from him rolling with Josh Hill their starter with his departure.

Watson has put together a productive career as he is currently ranked 14th among tight ends with 530 career receptions along with 5,885 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns. In the 2018 season, he had 35 catches on 46 targets for 400 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.

He has spent four out of the last five seasons with the Saints, where he has been a key part of their passing game. This included a career-best 2015 campaign where he had 74 receptions for 825 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Watson’s decision to make a return more than likely hinges on the level of interest from teams around the league. He has shown that he can be a significant contributor despite being in the latter stages of his career. This is a situation that should sort itself out over the offseason after teams take shape following the draft and as training camp approaches.