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3 free agent receivers better than Sammy Watkins the Chiefs need to target

By Rucker Haringey

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton #13 of the Indianapolis Colts warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton #13 of the Indianapolis Colts warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) /
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NFL Free Agency, Sammy Watkins
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 10: Patrick Mahomes #15 celebrates a touchdown with teammate Sammy Watkins #14 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium on September 10, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Here are three wideouts Kansas City can sign in free agency to replace Sammy Watkins. 

Sammy Watkins has been a reasonably productive player during his Chiefs tenure, but it’s time for Kansas City to stop waiting for him to fulfill his full potential. The reality is that Watkins is just a slightly above-average wide receiver when you focus purely on what he produces on the field.

That makes him a guy who is imminently replaceable in free agency. There’s no way Andy Reid and the brain trust in Kansas City should hand Watkins a big deal on the open market. Unless he’s willing to take a bargain deal, the Chiefs need to let a rival franchise pay the premium for his big name.

It might be tempting for the Chiefs to wait around until April’s NFL Draft to replace him. That would be a mistake. Instead, Kansas City should focus on one of the following free agent wideouts to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes in 2021.

3. Danny Amendola

Amendola isn’t in line for a big free agent contract at the age of 35, but the Chiefs could really benefit from his ability to carve out yards in the slot. The veteran was quietly a very productive player in Detroit’s offense last season with 46 catches for 602 yards.

It’s safe to assume Amendola can provide even greater production inside the comfortable confines of the Chiefs offense. He’s not going to threaten opposing secondaries over the top, but he can function as a high-level security blanket for Mahomes on short and intermediate routes. Signing Amendola to a one-year, modest deal could be a stroke of genius by Kansas City.

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