Sammy Watkins rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency
The buzz around wide receiver Sammy Watkins may not be very loud but he could drastically alter an offense next year in a positive way.
Sammy Watkins might just be one of the most enigmatic and tantalizing talents in the NFL. It feels like he’s been in the NFL for close to a decade but will be just 25 years old this coming season. Through his four seasons, Watkins has battled injuries and inconsistent quarterback play. He’s only exceeded 1,000 yards receiving once and has played in only 52 of a possible 64 games in his career thus far.
Considering the Buffalo Bills gave up a future first-round pick and other considerations to move up five spots in the 2014 draft, he has to be considered a bust to this point.
Even though he has not hit his ceiling yet, there’s every reason to think that he can if he continues to stay healthy and can find the right offense. During his time in Buffalo, he and quarterback Tyrod Taylor showed some flashes, especially with the deep ball. That was good news but Watkins had too many injuries and wasn’t always involved enough in the offense to maximize his abilities. He was finally part of a high-end offense in 2017 but his stats didn’t reflect it.
Watkins only saw a paltry 70 targets and turned it into 593 yards. There is a possibility that Watkins could finally find a real home this off-season and reach his sky high potential. A few spots stand out more than others to take advantage of what Watkins brings to the table.
5. Los Angeles Rams
One of the best possible spots for Watkins to land is exactly where he ended this past season: the Los Angeles Rams. There is still a possibility they could franchise tag the talented receiver, although reports suggest they may use that tag on safety Lamarcus Joyner instead. The Rams gave up a significant amount to get Watkins out of Buffalo. They may not want to have his services for only a year and letting him walk away.
On the other hand, is it worth the $16 million for Watkins when he finished fourth on the team in receptions? Can Watkins really command that type of money on the open market? Those are very important questions that will need answered shortly.
Since the stats don’t pop out, fans may wonder if Watkins can ever hit the ceiling he possesses or if he’ll go down as a bust. It seems odd that the Rams offense didn’t find more ways to get him the ball. Part of it could have been he was traded too close to the start of the season to build a chemistry with quarterback Jared Goff. Another reason could be that coach Sean McVay was more concerned with rebuilding Goff and his confidence.
While Watkins was taking off the top of the defense, Goff was making the easy throws to Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Todd Gurley. He didn’t need to force the ball to Watkins at almost any point. As Goff and McVay continue to grow in their roles, that could open up more production for Watkins. It would be hard to believe that McVay couldn’t find better ways to use the talented receiver if he comes back to L.A. However, there is enough of a question of the role Watkins has to keep the Rams down on the list.