Did Alshon Jeffery contract just set the market for Watkins?

[CGI_Ram]

Receiver is the easiest position the field to find.

I don't know. We've been trying since Holt and Bruce to find even just one.

 

[dieterbrock]

If that's the going rate, franchise tagging Sammy for a season doesnt seem like a bad idea

 

[Corbin]

I think that it is fair to say that we all expected a helluva lot more when we heard about the trade, right?

So.....

I need to see Watkins really blow things up in these next 5 games plus playoffs before I’m on board with a contract anywhere NEAR what Alshon just got.

I agree to a certain point but think you are not far from hitting the nail on the head bro. On paper you would think this would be the case of him having better numbers but you have to remember he was traded for in the preseason and didn't have a TC nor full preseason games or work to get acclimated to the offense. The other layers to this sandwich is I honestly think has not had enough time to build rapport and chemistry with the other players on a personal level tbh. Not like a offseason and TC does.

You tend to bust ass more and be all out when you care and respect your teammates and have that relationship with them. Watching him on some plays he takes them off or runs lazy routes and I really think it has to do with the chemistry part of things

On a side note I think it was really important for McVay to give him a game ball last game and McVay sees and knows the relevance of all this himself.


Here is to hoping Watkins keeps climbing that ladder the rest of this season and this discussion will not be an afterthought after the post season.

ps. I think Woods being out has some hidden benefits. Watkins building himself up in his absence is one of them.

 

[Loyal]

#Sign Donald first

THIS

 

[dieterbrock]

Receiver is the easiest position the field to find.

Brandon Gibson, Laurent Robinson, Austin Pettis, Mike Sims Walker, Bradley Marquez all agree

 

[TexasRam]

idk but this is what i found out about watkins besides watching the games
http://stats.washingtonpost.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=27532
47 targets 1 drop on the season
train

The stat also shows 59.6 percent caught. Which I am guessing is adding in contested balls where he is especially weak. But it’s not only the contested balls it’s all the crappy routes and pulling up before the play has ended that’s not added into the 59.6%.

I am pulling for him but unless he tears it up down the stretch it wouldn’t make sense to spend more money on him when we have WR depth like Reynolds and Cooper and Thomas.

 

[wolfdogg]

You need 3 high quality receivers, TE can be one, f you want to win a SB, especially since its hard for all 3 to finish an entire season. Sammy opens up the full dynamics of this offense and woods amd kupp would be seeing different coverages without him.

 

[fearsomefour]

I like Sammy and what him to stay.
But, I like virtually all Ram players and want them to stay.
Don't know if he is worth that.
But, I think WRs are overpaid in general anyway.

 

[wolfdogg]

I agree fully with your 1st point. On your 2nd & 3rd points I am not there fully.

On your 2nd point I see it diferently on Watkins being a No#1 priority in the offense....I see our OL unit having 6 OL'ers involved in FA'cy in 2018/2019.....thats my #1 priority the protection & comforting of Goff! You spend all those 52 plus millions & 28 million in guarantees it will cripple the Rams abilities to resign our 4 starters & 2 reserves. This is something I would not advocate or be willing to do myself! Can't throw deep to utilize Watkins if Goff does not have the time or is on his back.

On the 3rd TA point, I would agree & advocating the release of TA to save that 3 mil. However Rams still owe him 2 mil to cut. TA have proven valuable in the play action in our offense & helping Goff to figure out the right throws.Rams do not have a current replacement for TA in this element. TA does do that & anything to help Goff is a high priority. But 3 million saved to use elsewhere is something to ponder too.

Oh you're absolutely right about the line being the priority since its fair to say that if we had last year's line and coaches, more of us would be over at the off-season -moves thread about now. I was assumming that by the time hav and brown are up for new contracts in 2019, that a good amount of that cost will come from the elimination of tavons contract and probably Quinn s as well. Saffold may also not be in the picture in 2019 and if replaced by a current teammate or draftee there will be several million there. Plus the rams have over 41 million in cap space. What I'm saying is I see the online working itself out pretty smoothly through 2019 so my first actual concern is about being able to keep sammy and I think a front loaded 3 year contract for would be doable. I think he's growing as a player and we haven't seen his best yet.

 

[Angry Ram]

His attitude adjustment is very promising but I'd like to see how his role and production play out this year before I throw a number out there.

One things for sure; Watkins contract is the number one priority on offense and reworking or eliminating tavons contract is second.

This team has so many weapons and are used to exploit opponents. And the Eagles rely on the pass way more while here the whole offense flows through Jared Goff and Todd Gurley.

So he probably won't be a 1000+ yard 10 TD receiver. Which is no big deal, because defenses can't focus all on him.

 

[TSFH Fan]

To me, playoff performance matters. I think we'll know more about Sammy's value then.

Also, imo, just because a lot was spent to get Sammy, that cost, by itself, is not a good enough reason to keep him.
https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/27047/economics/sunk-cost-fallacy/

The sunk cost fallacy is when we continue an action because of our past decisions (time, money, resources) rather than a rational choice of what will maximise our utility at this present time. For example, because we order a big meal and have paid for it, we feel a pressure to eat all the food. . . .

 

[Riverumbbq]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-jeffery-four-year-extension-worth-52-million

"The deal is worth $52 million and also includes $1 million per year in incentives and $27 million in guarantees, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter."

Watkins is a bit younger. Jefferey has put up slightly better numbers this year, but it seem like this is about what it will take to get a deal done with Watkins.

Personally, i'd prefer a 5 year extension for Watkins as he's 3 years younger than Jeffery at 24, and i'd also be good with similar money per year. Watkins' PFF grade is slightly better than Alshon's at the moment, and he was a 1'st round draft pick, ... and where Jeffery is likely to remain the first target with Philadelphia, Watkins has a better overall receiving unit to work within, so I wouldn't be necessarily inclined to pay much attention to stats. jmo.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

On your 2nd point I see it diferently on Watkins being a No#1 priority in the offense....I see our OL unit having 6 OL'ers involved in FA'cy in 2018/2019.....thats my #1 priority the protection & comforting of Goff! You spend all those 52 plus millions & 28 million in guarantees it will cripple the Rams abilities to resign our 4 starters & 2 reserves. This is something I would not advocate or be willing to do myself! Can't throw deep to utilize Watkins if Goff does not have the time or is on his back.

Agree. We've been very fortunate so far this year with OL health, so I think that's kind of rendered our lack of depth a tad invisible. But after Blythe I don't think there's anyone. We're much deeper at receiver.

 

[nighttrain]

well by bad. thot his contract was for 8 mil next season
train

 

[…..]

I would be willing to bet if the Rams front office new Kupp and Woods would play as well as they have that they never would have traded for Watkins.

Looking back at it a 2nd round pick was a lot to give up for a player that has been injury prone and will be a free agent after this season.

To me, I just dial back my memory and recall the 2nd round picks that went to Donnie Avery and Brian Quick for alittle perspective on the track record/value of 2nd rounds picks. I thought it was a fairly justifiable risk to take and am pleased with the Rams for taking it. Because I'm pleased with the effort and understand the level of risk, I won't come back later and criticize them if it doesn't work out.

 

[nighttrain]

I think the Rams can and should resign Watkins, Save them draft choices for on the D
train

 

[Riverumbbq]

Agree. We've been very fortunate so far this year with OL health, so I think that's kind of rendered our lack of depth a tad invisible. But after Blythe I don't think there's anyone. We're much deeper at receiver.

Not only are we deeper at WR, but it should be a priority to keep it that way as our Rams haven't had a quality receiving unit in over a decade, and this is still a passing league where the past Rams have failed to keep this unit up to a high standard over several years. Money isn't a problem when you know how to allocate it, and with this, my trust is in Mr. Demoff.
While it's true that the 2019 season will likely increase our CAP expense on the OL due to Hav, Brown & Saffold's potential free agency, so is it true that we will be reaching the end of Whitworth's & Sullivan's careers. As we know, draft picks are pennies on the dollar compared to veterans, and 1'st rounders come with 5 year contracts which help keep CAP manageable, so I can envision an investment in the OL for this coming draft in preparation for what may transpire in 2019. I imagine the 2019 draft will also engage offensive line help, perhaps with higher draft picks than what we'll see used in 2018. Future OL draft & free agency picks will be coming from McVay & Kromer, so i'm already more assured that improvements over the Fisher era are soon coming. jmo.