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I don't understand why the issue of how MUCH it will cost to keep Sammy is seen as almost irrelevant by some posters here.
There's all this screaming over overpaying Austin. You think Sammy can't be overpaid in relation to production?
I'm NOT an advocate of simply moving on from Watkins. I WANT to keep him. But not at the cost of say a Julio Jones or Antonio Brown contract because on his best day he will NOT be one of those.
Also Watson is NEVER going to be a 1200 or 1300 yard receiver with the Rams. McVay's offense is NOT an offense that features any one player. That is not the philosophy. It thrives by spreading the ball around. Please notice how most of the time the Rams operated with "11" personnel groups this year. That gives them 5 receiving targets on every play. FIVE!
It is sooooo important to pay appropriately for a player. Otherwise it screws up the salary distribution on a team as much as it screws up the cap.
My guestimate is that the Rams are thinking Robert Woods contract money. Sure a tad more perhaps because a year has lapsed since giving Woods his contract.
But that's likely the limit UNLESS they structure the contract in a way that while it gives the appearance of being more, the guaranteed money is such that it does not exceed (more or less) Wood's contract.
I absolutely do NOT believe that a team is going to shell out a Julio Jones contract to Watkins....but you never know. All it takes is one whacky organization like the Browns to go overboard and he's gone.
I give it 50/50 as to whether he stays or goes. But if he stays, I'd say it's a foregone conclusion that unless Austin flat out give up some money he's gone. But McVay's lack of use of Austin makes it appear that he has already mentally phased Austin out.
