FRANCHISE TAG WIDE RECEIVER SAMMY WATKINS
There are valid arguments to be made for bringing Watkins back or letting him walk as an unrestricted free agent. On one hand, he represents the kind of dynamic home-run hitter the Rams have lacked for years at wide receiver. On the other, he simply did not statistically live up to the hype after they traded for him near the end of training camp.
Watkins finished with 39 catches for 593 yards and eight touchdowns. Good but not great numbers for No. 1-caliber receiver.
That’s where the franchise tag comes in so handy.
If, as some suggest, Watkins’ numbers were merely the result of him arriving late in camp and not having a full year to work with Goff, bringing him back on a one-year deal buys time to figure out whether he’s part of the long-range plan. Without, of course, committing long-range money.
Yet.
If he rebounds with a big year, they can revisit a multi-year deal next year. If not, they can simply walk away no harm done.
