No team can keep every player every year, but smart teams do keep their core players, for lack of a better word.

Core players are very few and very valuable, by definition. Players that they absolutely, positively feel are critical parts around which to build.

Goff, Gurley, and Kupp on O? Maybe Woods now.

AD, Brockers, Peters, and Joyner on D?

All others are perhaps short term and/or replaceable parts, I think.

Watkins was deemed to be in that latter group.

Obviously, many very valuable players are also on this roster, but they’re not quite in that “core” category.

Life (and winning Ram football) will go on without Watkins. Trust me on this.