Packers are 'dream destination' for free agent WR Sammy Watkins

Packers are 'dream destination' for free agent WR Sammy Watkins
[packerswire.usatoday.com]
Pro Football Focus included the Green Bay Packers and receiver Sammy Watkins among their favorite potential “splash signings” of free agency.

Mike Renner of PFF believes Watkins and Davante Adams would give Aaron Rodgers his best combination of receivers since the 2011 season.

“The biggest knock on the Packers receivers of late has been their inability to separate versus man coverage and despite a down 2017, Watkins can still get open with the best of ‘em,” Renner wrote.

The obvious caveat here is that the Packers would first have to make big decisions on veteran receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, who are due over $25 million on the salary cap in 2018. New general manager Brian Gutekunst would either have to eliminate or restructure the contract of one of the two receivers to clear enough cap space to make a legitimate run at Watkins, who is expected to reach free agency after the Rams decided to franchise tag safety Lamarcus Joyner earlier this week.

Traded to Los Angeles before last season, Watkins averaged 15.2 yards per catch with eight touchdowns from Rams quarterback Jared Goff in 2017. He has the speed and vertical ability to help unlock a Packers offense that has condensed in recent years while lacking a legitimate deep threat. Playing with a quarterback like Rodgers could maximize his talent and production.

However, Watkins has also dealt with several injuries throughout his NFL career, and, despite playing in an innovative offense in 2017, he produced only 2.6 catches and 39.5 receiving yards per game for the Rams, while catching only 39 of 70 targets (55.7 percent).

For all the hype about Watkins’ big-play ability, he produced only six games with a catch over 20 yards – the exact same amount as Randall Cobb in 2017.

Still, Watkins is undoubtedly talented, and he could be exactly what the Packers need: A legitimate deep threat with speed, capable of stretching the field and softening some of the coverages and defensive looks thrown at the offense in the recent years. Completing the move will take some aggressiveness from Gutekunst, both in terms of fixing the contracts of Nelson and Cobb and chasing Watkins on the open market, where he’ll have several suitors.

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Best,
Laram