Ben Watson rumors: Top 3 landing spots

Tight end Ben Watson had a productive 2017 season with the Baltimore Ravens, but his options as an impending free agent in 2018 include moving to another team or potentially even hanging up his cleats.

Ben Watson might not return to the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. In fact, he might not even return to football this season.

Watson turned heads around the league last season as he racked up 522 yards and four touchdowns on 61 receptions after making his way back from an Achilles tear in 2016.

But Watson, who is 37 years old, isn’t sure how many more years, if any, he has in him.

In January, appearing on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” Watson indicated that retirement is on “the tip of his tongue,” but he hasn’t made any decisions yet.

If Watson does plan to return for another season in the NFL, here are three teams that could come a-knocking.

Best Fits

1. Baltimore Ravens

If Watson decides to return for another season, the Ravens will surely be more than happy to keep him around and see if he can improve on his 2017 numbers. Despite his age, that might be possible since he’s even further removed from his 2016 Achilles injury. Watson played in all 16 games for the Ravens last season.

2. New Orleans Saints

Watson was with the Saints from 2013 through 2015 and racked up 10 touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards. His production spiked in 2015 after the Saints traded Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks, as Watson stepped up to produce 825 yards and six touchdowns. The Saints are reportedly interested in reuniting with Graham this offseason, but if they want to look at bringing back another former weapon, Watson could help give them a one-year push.

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3. Retirement

This one might seem like a cop-out, but at this point, retirement truly might be the best option for Watson. At 37 and recovering from a major injury, his body isn’t going to bounce back any faster. He’s also one of the league’s most impressive players, earning the Ravens’ nomination for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. Watson has a lot to offer outside of football.