Chiefs depth chart: 3 backup plans after missing on DeAndre Hopkins

No. 2 Chiefs backup plan after missing on DeAndre Hopkins: Sammy Watkins

There are still a few veteran wide receivers out there for the Chiefs to pursue, even though none are as enticing as Hopkins. Julio Jones, Kenny Golladay, N’Keal Harry and Sammy Watkins all carry the same risk, of course. Do they add real value at this stage?

Kansas City could add any of those players but let’s look specifically at what Watkins may have to bring.

Watkins spent the 2022 season with the Packers and Ravens, totalling 16 catches and 325 yards in 12 games.

That’s not much in the way of production, but that’s more than all but two of the receivers currently on the Chiefs roster had last year — Marques Valdes-Scantling had 687 while Richie James totalled 569 yards with the Giants.

Watkins is capable of more than that, as Kansas City already knows. Even if his three years with the team were hit-and-miss, he had no fewer than 37 catches or 421 yards in those seasons.

The Chiefs could use a veteran pass catcher who won’t break the bank and Watkins needs somewhere to extend his career.

Having said that, he’s not the best option on the free agent market…