KC Chiefs: Making the case for keeping Sammy Watkins

With free agency right around the corner, it is time to look at KC Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins and the reasons to keep him on the team.

There are three main reasons why the Kansas City Chiefs should keep Sammy Watkins on the roster for the 2020 season, even with the WR2 being owed $21 million next season. Here are the reasons, which we’ll dive into more in a bit:

First, he is a good wide receiver.
Second, he has been clutch in the playoffs.
Lastly, he gives Patrick Mahomes another weapon and since when is that a bad thing?

With that in mind, let’s delve into each of these points further.

GOOD RECEIVER

Once upon a time, the Buffalo Bills traded a lot to move up in the 2014 NFL Draft and select Sammy Watkins with the fourth overall pick. The reason for that is that Watkins had an insanely good career at Clemson and the Bills had high hopes for him.

While Watkins lasted just three years in Buffalo, he found success with the Rams in 2017 and there was a reason Brett Veach and the Chiefs signed him to the contract that they did. It’s because Watkins can play.

In the two years he has been on the team, Watkins has averaged around 600 yards and three touchdowns a season. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you consider he is on a team with Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Mecole Hardman and other explosive players, that isn’t completely terrible.

That does come with a caveat that will be discussed later though. Still – Those are not bad stats for a guy who is a third option on most plays.

PLAYOFF PERFORMANCES

Watkins has been great in the playoffs for the Chiefs. In the five playoff games he has participated in with the Chiefs, he has racked in 465 yards and one touchdown with that score being the one that put the 2019 AFC Championship game on ice. His crucial grab in the Super Bowl helped lead the Chiefs in that epic comeback too, proving he can make big plays when needed most.

In comparison, Tyreek Hill’s totals for the same five games are 327 yards and two trips into the end zone. Travis Kelce only had 338 yards in those same five games, but he has five touchdowns.

With the Chiefs being a perennial playoff team, it never hurts to have a guy who can make those plays in big games. Take Watkins out of those games and who knows who steps up to help lead the team on a big play? This is a prime reason why Watkins should stay in Kansas City.

YET ANOTHER WEAPON

When you look at some of the all-time great teams, they have a ton of playmakers. The San Fransisco teams of the 80’s were loaded, the Cowboys teams of the early 90’s had talent everywhere on offense, and we can’t forget the Greatest Show on Turf in the early 2000s.

Having an embarrassment of riches on offense, especially with potential injuries, being everywhere can never hurt that way the team never misses a beat. Look at when Hill got hurt in week one and Watkins picked up the slack that week.

Watkins might not have been prominent in the regular season, but he made the most of his opportunities when needed and was a key weapon for Patrick Mahomes.

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Next. Five Chiefs to Cut in 2020 Offseason. dark

Sammy Watkins is a valuable piece for the KC Chiefs. He has done most of what the Chiefs hoped for in the two years he has been on the team.

There are certainly some downsides to be talked about there, but if the Kansas City Chiefs were to keep Sammy Watkins for the 2020 season, it would truly help the team make a run for a repeat.

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