I appreciate Watkins being open about this. Curious to see if the Chiefs would be cool with him skipping OTAs if we signed a team friendly extension. I do think this really cools the trade market for him. Going to be interesting.
Originally Posted by :
Sammy Watkins spent part of the week leading up to Super Bowl LIV musing that he might take a year off from football if the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl.
Two days after K.C. hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after knocking off the San Francisco 49ers, Watkins told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he is still considering some sort of break from the game this offseason, whether he's a member of the Chiefs or not.
"At the end of the day, I think the Kansas City Chiefs are in control as far as contract talks, you know? A guy of my stature, I'm still young, I still think I have a lot of good football in me. But as you know, it takes a toll on the body, the mental, the physical and I'm gonna really weigh my options out and see if I need to sit out the whole OTAs or something like that, just to get my mental back and be with my kids and family," Watkins said. "It's been a long season for the last two years. We've been in the playoffs, going all the way to the third round last year, then won the Super Bowl. So I honestly think mentally, physically, soulfully, spiritually, I need some downtime. So I will talk to coach [Andy] Reid about it.
"I don't control the contract, a trade or if they're going to give me a bigger contract. That's not my worry. I'm not really focused on the money aspect of it. I'm really focused on my health, mental health and really checking in on and making sure I'm OK with my life, my family, my wife, my kids. Once I figure that out, I think I'll be fine."
After four seasons with the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams, Watkins signed a three-year deal worth $48 million with Kansas City during the 2018 offseason. After two so-so regular seasons and two spectacular postseasons, during which he dealt with injuries and played in 29 games, Watkins has one year left on his deal and is owed $14 million in 2020. However, if the Chiefs were to move on from Watkins, they would take on only $7 million in dead cap.
All this begs questions in the offseason as to whether K.C. want to retain Watkins at that price, whether the Chiefs will try to trade the receiver or whether they will renegotiate his deal. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported last week that Kansas City is more likely to trade or release Watkins. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said Tuesday afternoon that the Chiefs want to work something out with Watkins, though it won't be easy.
And then there's the query as to whether Watkins is willing to play on a pay cut or at all, given his recent comments. The receiver answered that definitively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, saying he has no intention to walk away.
"I'm too young to retire. I have not done enough yet, you know what I mean?" Watkins said. "Why not go win another championship and continue to be great? ... Be a Pro Bowl receiver. Be an All-Pro. There are a lot of things I haven't accomplished yet being. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest accomplishments in this league but I haven't did the individual goals yet and hopefully I can accomplish those next year either with the Kansas City Chiefs or another team.
"Those are the little things I want to hit, not to be selfish, but those are things I haven't really done in my career and those are things I want to do. Hopefully the next eight, nine years if I continue to be blessed and play that long, that I have those Hall of Fame numbers that I'm shooting for. Those are the dreams that I still haven't accomplished yet and those are the things I still want to accomplish."
At just 26 years old, Watkins has already reached the peak of professional football. But as he said, the receiver has not reached his personal goals. A 2014 first-round pick, Watkins has yet to reach the Pro Bowl or be voted to an All-Pro team. He has gone over 1,000 receiving yards in a season just once and averaged 707.3 yards per year through six campaigns. After scoring eight touchdowns in 2017, Watkins has logged just six in the past two regular seasons.
Now that he has won the Super Bowl, these are the numbers that stand out to him, the things to drive him to want to play on, for Kansas City or another team.
All Watkins needs is a little time off to get his head (and contract situation) right.
Watkins is a tough call- I genuinely believe Sammy in his interviews during the week leading up to the Super Bowl in regards to his positive comments about playing for Andy Reid and the Chiefs organization in general. He has had a fairly tumultuous start to his career and if he left the Chiefs this would be his 4th new team already. He may not be personally achieving the same stats as he would in another offense that featured him primarily but he is still being paid handsomely to be part of a prolific offense where the pressure is not on him to be the guy week in and week out.
His contribution as a guy who can win 1 on 1 matchups when teams go double bracket on Kelce and Hill is exactly what is needed from the #3 guy on this offense. Can Hardman be that same threat? I'm not sure- I don't know if Hardman or Robinson wins that 1 on 1 with Sherman that setup the GWG touchdown during the Super Bowl. Or the play that sealed the win in the Titans game- make no mistake Sammy Watkins had his fingerprints all over this Chiefs playoff run.
Honestly I can see it going either way if Watkins stays or goes. [Reply]
Originally Posted by jimidollar:
I was looking at some stats. Sammy had 114 receiving yards in the 2019 afc championship. He also had 114 in the 2020 afc championship. Weird.
Mahomes threw for 295 last year and 294 this year.
According to his IG Sammy is going back to Florida.l with his kids and wife. Probably doesn’t mean anything since he’s from there. Probably just some vacation time is all [Reply]
Originally Posted by Megatron96:
Mecole is at least two more years from becoming a legit WR2. Think about it. It took Jerry freaking Rice three years to become a legit WR. His first two seasons were pretty forgettable.
Anyone seriously think that Mecole Hardman, who only played WR for a season or two in college, with a much more complicated playbook to learn than what Jerry had to digest, is really going to just "get it" after one season?
Uh Jerry Rice had a 1500 yard, 15 TD season in his second year...and 900+ yards as a rookie. [Reply]
One thing that probably doesn't matter, at all, but worth noting. During the MICd up in the Super Bowl you can hear Tyreek go "we always dig ourselfs in holes" and then sighs. Sammy is like....cmon not always then starts to rally the troops. Seems like he's positive most of the time.
I don't think it matters, but Chiefsplanet loves the grit & positive attitude ideology and stuff. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
One thing that probably doesn't matter, at all, but worth noting. During the MICd up in the Super Bowl you can hear Tyreek go "we always dig ourselfs in holes" and then sighs. Sammy is like....cmon not always then starts to rally the troops. Seems like he's positive most of the time.
I don't think it matters, but Chiefsplanet loves the grit & positive attitude ideology and stuff.
It's probably just time to admit, this shit is a business you sign a 3 year deal with an out after 2 to sign another big money contract, he's gone. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
This is the best possible draft to get his replacement. This draft is loaded with excellent WR’s, especially being the 3rd/4th option in this offense.
Sammy is a luxury item. His value is high right now after the Super Bowl. We should absolutely be able to get a 3rd rd pick for him.
No one is trading for his contract, he's a cut. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
This is the best possible draft to get his replacement. This draft is loaded with excellent WR’s, especially being the 3rd/4th option in this offense.
Sammy is a luxury item. His value is high right now after the Super Bowl. We should absolutely be able to get a 3rd rd pick for him.
I'd prefer a 3rd in the 2020 draft vs. a 2021 comp pick.
Originally Posted by Mecca:
No one is trading for his contract, he's a cut.
You're trading for the right to restructure his contract, not his current 1/$14M deal. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
No one is trading for his contract, he's a cut.
It would be similar to Frank Clark’s trade. Sammy gets traded and the new team gives him a new long term deal. New team gets the early low cap hits with a backloaded contract, Sammy gets another payday + $7 million from us next year.