The Green Bay Packers welcomed veteran Sammy Watkins in for a free agent visit Thursday morning and they’re not going to let him leave. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Packers and Watkins have agreed to terms on a one year contract that could earn him up to 4 million dollars.
Watkins, 28, entered the NFL as the 4th overall pick and the first wide receiver taken in the 2014 draft by the Buffalo Bills but a series of injuries have not allowed him to live up to that lofty status. His only season with 16 starts was that rookie campaign when Green Bay’s receivers coach and passing game coordinator Jason Vrabel was on the Bills staff. That was the same year the Packers took Davante Adams in the second round.
The trade of Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, along with veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling signing a free agent deal with Kansas City and Equanimeous St. Brown with Chicago, has left the Packers extremely thin at the position. The only returning veterans are Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and last year’s draft pick Amari Rodgers.
However General Manager Brian Gutekunst acquired first and second round picks from Las Vegas for Adams, giving him 4 choices in the top 59 heading into this year’s draft later this month. It’s expected he’ll replenish the roster by selecting at least two, and maybe more pass catchers for Aaron Rodgers.
In his first two years, Watkins caught 65 balls for 982 yards and 6 scores followed by 60 receptions, a career high 1047 yards and 9 scores. He was limited to 8 games during his third year with the Bills.
In 2017, Watkins moved to the Los Angeles Rams when Green Bay Head Coach Matt LaFleur was a member of Sean McVay’s staff. Watkins caught 8 touchdowns that year, starting 15 of 16 games. After spending three years with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, Watkins headed to the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 but again, had trouble staying on the field. In nine starts, he finished with a career low 27 receptions for 394 yards and just one touchdown. His career numbers are 348 catches, 5059 yards and 34 scores.
The 6-1, 210 pound former Clemson Tiger is hoping to recapture his early career form and stay healthy on a very manageable one year deal for the Packers. The wide receiver re-stocking effort of Gutekunst has begun.
