Packers: What Sammy Watkins signing means for Green Bay

Sammy Watkins will be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers this fall. The eight-year veteran signed a one-year deal worth up to $4 million with the Green Bay Packers, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It’s an important signing for the Packers, who will continue to look for receiver help in the draft and possibly via trade and/or via free agency again.

So, why is this signing so important?

The former Clemson Tiger was drafted fourth overall in 2014 by the Buffalo Bills. Interestingly enough, Packers WRs coach Jason Vrable was an offensive quality control coach in Buffalo when the Bills made the move.

In Watkins’ first two seasons, he averaged over 1,000 yards per season while catching passes from four different quarterbacks. The second of those seasons was his best career season. He had 60 receptions for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns.

His 125 receptions and 2,029 yards were the most ever by a Bills player in his first two career NFL seasons.

After a down year in 2016, Watkins signed with the Los Angeles Rams 2017. Do you know who held the role of co-offensive coordinator at that time for the Rams? Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.

Watkins would play there for one season, then move on to the Kansas City Chiefs for three years, and the Baltimore Ravens finally last season.

In 2019, Watkins won the Super Bowl with the Chiefs. During that postseason run, he was a big factor, catching 14 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown.

He won three AFC West titles, made three straight AFC Championship appearances and played in back-to-back Super Bowls in Kansas City. That winning mentality is something Green Bay is used to having.

Watkins is one of just five receivers in the league with 300+ receptions, 5,000+ receiving yards, 30+ receiving touchdowns and a YPC mark of over 14.5 since 2014. He also has a career postseason average of 19.2 yards per reception. That is a sensational mark.

The thought about Watkins is that he hasn’t reached his full potential in the NFL. In his last two seasons (2020 with KC, 2021 with BAL), he caught just 64 passes for a combined 815 yards with only three touchdowns.

The worry is that he is injury-prone too. His only full season came as a rookie in 2014. But perhaps playing with arguably the greatest QB of all-time in Aaron Rodgers will change things. Also, playing for some familiar faces in Vrable and LaFleur could make a massive impact too.

Remember, he is only 28 years old. He has 4.4 speed. He has proven that he can play at a high level given the right situation. Catching passes from Rodgers and playing alongside leaders like Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard is a very good situation for Watkins to be in.

For those that think Watkins is a replacement for Davante Adams or Marquez Valdes-Scantling, that’s not exactly the case. He isn’t necessarily a replacement. Think of him as more of just a veteran addition, who will take the pressure off of Green Bay’s future rookie receivers and inexperienced players.

He can run nearly every route in the book. He’s experienced. He certainly helps with the team’s WR depth. But this signing doesn’t officially end the team’s need at that position.

As it stands right now, the Packers’ WR depth chart stands as Watkins-Lazard-Cobb-Amari Rodgers with practice squad players like Juwann Winfree and Malik Taylor hoping to make the 53-man roster.

Watkins, Lazard, and Cobb could make a nice trio.

But Green Bay has room to add 2-3 more receivers. They will more likely than not use at least one of their two first-round picks on a receiver. Notable names like Chris Olave, Treylon Burks, Jahan Dotson, and George Pickens could be available at No. 22 and No. 28 when Green Bay is on the clock.

Keep in mind, if the Packers wanted to add another free agent, Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, Will Fuller, Odell Beckham Jr., and Emmanuel Sanders are all still out there.

However, Green Bay only has an estimated $11-$13 million in cap space left. If the team wanted to create a trade package comprised of draft picks for D.K. Metcalf or Terry McLaurin, that could be an option.

Regardless of what GM Brian Gutekunst does, he has a lot of ways he can go to address the receiver position. But it is clear that Green Bay is going to take a receiver-by-committee approach.

They are going to be more balanced. Much more dangerous.

They aren’t done making moves. Sammy Watkins is a solid addition for this franchise. It is a step in the right direction undoubtedly. More steps forthcoming.