Free agent wide receiver Sammy Watkins could be a deep threat the Baltimore Ravens have been longing for. Should the Ravens target him?
The recent news of Jarvis Landry‘s franchise tag has left the Baltimore Ravens disappointed. Reports suggest the Dolphins are still open to trading Landry but that puts the Ravens in a tough spot. It’s hard to see Ozzie Newsome striking a deal without the willing cap space now that Landry is under the tag. The wide receiver free agent market is slowly dwindling down as the Ravens still need help. Enter, Sammy Watkins.
Watkins was a top receiver coming out of Clemson in 2014 but his NFL career has been a rollercoaster ride. He combined for 2,029 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Buffalo Bills and looked like a true No. 1 receiver. That’s until injuries took a toll. Watkins was placed on injured reserve at the start of the 2016 season and was limited in just eight starts. The Bills seemingly had enough and eventually traded Watkins to the Rams last offseason.
A fresh start in Matt LaFluer’s offense proved to be just what the doctor ordered. Watkins had a bounce-back season in 2017, finishing with 593 yards and eight touchdowns. While he was inconsistent at times, Watkins showed continued flashes that made him a top receiver in Buffalo.
Because the Bills’ declined Watkins’ fifth-year option, he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent come March. Franchise tagging him is still an option unlikely. That would mean the Rams would pay upwards of $16 million next season. That’s far off from Watkins’ projected free agent market value of $5.9 million.
The good news for the Ravens, Watkins is affordable.
A gamble that could pay dividends
It’s a gamble betting on Watkins’ potential given his injury history but it might be a risk the Ravens are willing to take. Watkins is a dynamic deep threat and possesses a burst that not many receivers have. He’s averaged over 15 yards a catch each of his four seasons in the NFL. With the arm strength of Joe Flacco, it’s an area of the passing game the Ravens need to unlock. Far too often we saw the offense settle for checkdowns and shorter routes last season. Watkins can bring back the Torrey Smith-like threat Flacco hasn’t had since 2014.
The wide receiver depth chart needs a desperate upgrade. I have to believe the Ravens aren’t planning on solely addressing the position through the draft. That’s betting on too much unproven potential in a year where winning is the highest priority.
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If the money is right, I wouldn’t mind seeing Watkins and Flacco connect for some long-ball touchdowns. After all, the Ravens need a player that fans can get excited about. This would certainly be a start.