5 Ravens players who likely played their final game with the team
By Kristen Wong
3. Sammy Watkins, WR, Baltimore Ravens
It’s safe to say the Sammy Watkins experiment has failed.
The Ravens signed Watkins late last season in the wake of Devin Duvernay’s season-ending injury, and Watkins’ second run with the team produced meager results.
Watkins was only targeted five times and recorded three catches for 119 receiving yards. His specialty in 2022 was catching deep throws, as is evident by his 39.7 average yards per reception, yet the Ravens’ offense as a whole should experience a drastic makeover this offseason, and Watkins likely isn’t sticking around.
Watkins never proved a reliable deep threat back in 2021, and as he nears the other side of 30, he’s better off as a practice squad depth piece or a break-in-case-of-emergency starter.
Rashod Bateman and Duvernay will return in 2023, and — fingers crossed — the Ravens may sign a talented free agent to shore up the position. Watkins wasn’t the problem in Baltimore’s lifeless passing attack this past season, but given his injury history and other shortcomings, he won’t be part of the solution.