After spending the 2021 season with the Ravens, it’s very clear Sammy Watkins will not be returning in 2022. Let’s make our predictions as to what teams might sign Watkins in free agency.
Predictions for Sammy Watkins in 2022 NFL Free Agency
Let’s start with the obvious. Someone is going to sign Watkins. The biggest impediment in predicting where he might go is he’s just not an impact player.
Watkins’ best two seasons were his first two in Buffalo. Since then, he hasn’t averaged over 54 receiving yards per game. Beginning in 2018, his receiving yards per game has declined every year. Despite spending three years with Patrick Mahomes, it went from 51.9 to 48.1 to 47.1. Then, last year in Baltimore, it dropped all the way to 30.3.
At 29 years old, the sun is setting on Watkins’ career. He’s certainly physically capable of playing in the NFL for another 3-5 years, but he’s not the caliber of receiver that will continue to have a spot on an NFL roster if he’s not producing.
With that said, Watkins is still a brand name and will have a job in 2022. Who might sign the former Bill, Ram, Chief, and Raven?
Cleveland Browns
I’m going to be perfectly honest regarding predictions of Watkins’ landing spots. He could sign with almost anyone. Watkins is nothing more than a rotational WR3/4, at best. He’s a veteran presence and roster depth. This is not a player that’s going to have any tangible impact on a team’s chances of winning games or a championship.
The Browns recently traded for Amari Cooper. They have their WR1. However, they don’t have anything beyond that. The Browns certainly need to improve at WR2. Right now, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz are the top candidates following Jarvis Landry’s release.
Perhaps the Browns look to bring in a veteran receiver like Watkins to solidify their wide receiver depth. At the very least, Watkins is an experienced player that could take the field if the younger players are struggling.
The Browns will probably draft a receiver, likely on Day 2. Even so, Watkins could be a depth piece they sign just in case. With $13 million in salary cap space, the Browns can afford it. I wouldn’t expect Watkins to command much more than $3-5 million on a one-year deal.
Las Vegas Raiders
This just feels like something the Raiders would do. Last season, they signed 34-year-old DeSean Jackson to a one-year, $2 million contract. To be fair, Jackson was a lot better than Watkins for a lot longer. Nevertheless, perhaps the Raiders front office believes it can revive the 2014 and 2015 versions of Watkins.
The Raiders have one of the best salary cap situations in the NFL. They have about $25 million in available space. It also wouldn’t cost much to sign Watkins.
This is a team that got the most out of Zay Jones last year, a receiver many, including myself, wrote off as never mattering. Jones ended up putting together a very nice second half of the 2021 season. Maybe they can do the same for Watkins.
If the Raiders do sign Watkins, I would expect a one-year, possibly incentive-laden deal worth no more than $3 million.
Houston Texans
Does this make any sense? No. Not at all. But that didn’t stop the Texans last year when they signed a medley of replacement-level wide receivers. They brought in Chris Conley, Chris Moore, and Danny Amendola. Watkins feels like the type of receiver they’d sign.
The Texans have Brandin Cooks locked in as their WR1 and sophomore Nico Collins as their WR2. Beyond those two players, everything is uncertain.
Last year, they gave Amendola a one-year, $1.8 million contract. With about $5 million in salary cap space, that’s a fine price to put Watkins on the roster as rotational depth.
At this point in his career, Watkins is likely going to go with either the team that pays him the most or a team that can win a Super Bowl. He was fortunate enough to be part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, so maybe he’s just looking for a payday. The Texans are a realistic landing spot for Watkins in free agency.
