Sammy Watkins is the newest member of the Green Bay Packers. On the very same day that it was reported that the former first-round pick had a meeting with Green Bay, other reports are coming out that Watkins did in fact sign a one-year deal with the Packers.
According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the contract is worth up to $4 million — providing Green Bay value in the process.
The decision to sign Sammy Watkins comes after Green Bay traded star wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders and lost fellow pass-catcher Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. It fills a major need for the Packers, but isn’t necessarily a major needle mover.
- Sammy Watkins stats (2021): 27 receptions, 394 yards, 1 TD, 55.1% catch rate
A first-round pick of the Bills back in 2014 (No. 4 overall), the 28-year-old Watkins has fallen on hard times recently. After tallying 1,047 receiving yards as a sophomore back in 2015, he has yet to cross the 700-yard plateau in any of the previous six seasons. In fact, Watkins is averaging a mere 505 receiving yards since the start of the 2016 season.
Even then, this creates depth for a Green Bay wide receiver group that might still be one of the weakest in the NFL. Below, we look at three more moves the Packers should make after signing Sammy Watkins.
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Green Bay Packers sign Dont’a Hightower
The Packers’ ability to retain De’Vondre Campbell earlier this offseason was big. However, there’s a need at the other inside linebacker spot with youngster Krys Barnes having struggled in coverage over the course of his first two NFL seasons (110.6 passer rating allowed in 2021).
Why not buy low on a two-time Pro Bowler in Hightower who has shown flashes in coverage during his 10-year NFL career? The three-time Super Bowl champion struggled in coverage the past two seasons, but he’s a couple years removed from yielding a solid 87.3 QB rating when targeted. Maybe a change of scenery will help here.
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Green Bay Packers sign another wide receiver
Even with Watkins in the mix, there’s a couple more holes to fill at wide receiver in Green Bay. Allen Lazard is the leading returning pass-catcher from that position with 40 receptions a season ago. Veteran Randall Cobb recorded a mere 28 catches in his first season back with the team.
Given the Sammy Watkins contract details, Green Bay can afford to sign another veteran off the free-agent market. Perhaps, former Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowler Julio Jones would work well catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. The likes of Jarvis Landry, T.Y. Hilton and Odell Beckham Jr. could also make sense.
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Green Bay Packers pull off blockbuster trade for a wide receiver
Neither Sammy Watkins or the four wide receivers mentioned above will move the needle too much for Green Bay. Enter into the equation the possibility that this team could pull off a blockbuster trade for a wide receiver.
There’s renewed speculation that the San Francisco 49ers might look to take advantage of the wide receiver trade market by moving Deebo Samuel for a massive bounty. Green Bay has an additional first and second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft stemming from the Davante Adams trade to the Raiders. Perhaps, it offers up both picks and change.
The likes of Seattle Seahawks star D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans have also been bandied about as potential trade chips. They could make sense, too.