Ravens trying to steal Sammy Watkins from the Chiefs in free agency

Will the Baltimore Ravens finally add a wide receiver in free agency by signing Sammy Watkins?

It’s no secret at the Baltimore Ravens need a true No.1 target the 2021 season. Marquise Brown is a fine option and Mark Andrews is a rising tight end. The two of them cannot do all the work alone for Lamar Jackson.

It looks as if Eric DeCosta might have found his next pass-catcher.

The Ravens are expected to meet with former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins this week. Should things go according to plan, the 27-year-old could be joining Baltimore’s arsenal and saying goodbye to the Kingdom.

Last season, Watkins finished with 37 receptions for 421 yards with a pair of touchdowns in 2020. He spent the last three seasons with Kansas City after revitalizing his career with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.

The former No. 4 overall pick has recorded 321 catches for 4,665 yards and 33 touchdowns since being drafted out of Clemson in 2014. Only once has he surpassed 1,000 yards on the year.

Would losing Watkins hurt the Chiefs offense?

Kansas City will have plenty of needs to address this offseason after a 31-9 defeat in Super Bowl LV to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The wide receiver position as a whole has its holes, but also isn’t the top priority.

Both Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill are coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. The hope is that former second round pick Mecole Hardman will thrive in Year 3 as the permanent replacement for Watkins on the perimeter.

Kansas City and Baltimore have been interested in adding at least one wide receiver this offseason. Multiple reports indicated that the two offered Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster a one-year deal worth more than what he officially took to return to the Steel City.

The good news for both is that the 2021 NFL Draft is loaded with talent at the position. Watkins or not, they should be able to bolster their weapons at some point come April 29-May 1.