Watkins had me fooled

[dang]

I was very hopeful Sammy was going to be the #1 receiver we have been wanting for 10 years. He was in fact effective as our WR #3 who was our best red zone target with very strong hands outplayed considerably by Kupp and Woods. He will contribute to the Chiefs but not as a #1 receiver worthy of a $16M contract.

 

[dang]

No doubt. Cooks is a much more rounded WR, from routes to timing. I won't lie I use to be a big Watkins fan (till that playoff game). However, I think Sammy will work for what KC is doing and Cooks the same for us.

No debate Cooks is the better player.

I debated mentioning Watkins poor showing in last years Atlanta playoff game in my previous post. Since it was mentioned - I second the disappointment in his lack of impact/effort.

 

[8to12]

Cooks is way better than Watkins, and time will prove that the Rams made a couple of great decisions.

..."A couple" ?? I'm not so sure. Giving up a 2nd pick for Watkins and then getting nothing for him after one season was not a great move.

 

[Malibu]

Not me I called it last year. I was on the fence on him based on his non consistency prior to coming to the Rams.

Cooks is the opposite. Totally consistent over1100 yards per season 3 of the 4 years in the league. The current season in pace to get 1800+ yards.

 

[Akrasian]

..."A couple" ?? I'm not so sure. Giving up a 2nd pick for Watkins and then getting nothing for him after one season was not a great move.

They had one year of a receiver who frequently took double teams or the top CB and still scored 8 touchdowns, for a serious bargain salary of $690k. They also are getting a third round pick for him in the 2019 draft. That is NOT nothing. They may or may not have received great value, but getting a quality season from somebody including 8 TDs for that little cap space is valuable, and the third mitigates things considerably too.

 

[fearsomefour]

I debated mentioning Watkins poor showing in last years Atlanta playoff game in my previous post. Since it was mentioned - I second the disappointment in his lack of impact/effort.

He is a feckless cuck.
Soft and weak.
Brian Quick with 20% more talent.
Glad hes gone.
** meant with love and respect.
Re reading my post that seems harsh.

 

[RhodyRams]

I seriously think that last year was a probation year for Goff under McVays tutelage. Give him a few weapons (Watkins and Woods) along with drafting Kupp and see what kind of moxie he has.

It worked out great and McVay had his eye on Cooks already, so they let Watkins go without overpaying him, signed Cooks and here we are today

 

[jrry32]

..."A couple" ?? I'm not so sure. Giving up a 2nd pick for Watkins and then getting nothing for him after one season was not a great move.

We got a 3rd for him departing in FA.

 

[Zodi]

..."A couple" ?? I'm not so sure. Giving up a 2nd pick for Watkins and then getting nothing for him after one season was not a great move.

It depends on how you look at it. Word is that McVay wanted Cooks ahead of the 2017 season, but couldn't get him because of the Saints requiring a 1st round pick-- which we didn't have. So I guess we settled for Watkins, giving up a 2nd rounder in the process for an evaluation.

I mean, there's a reason why we let Watkins test FA, and then extended Cooks pretty much immediately after we traded for him.

 

[RamFan503]

..."A couple" ?? I'm not so sure. Giving up a 2nd pick for Watkins and then getting nothing for him after one season was not a great move.

Meh. We traded a second, didn’t spend a lot for him, and get a third back.

We liked Cooks better then but didn’t have the resources - draft wise - so we went with who most thought was a pretty good receiver.

It didn’t work out, but all in all, I’d say we made pretty sound decisions in all of this.

 

[fearsomefour]

We got a 3rd for him departing in FA.

What really determines whether giving up or getting picks is what comes of those picks.
It's still early but the returns on the 2018 draft look very good.

 

[SteveBrown]

He has around 50-60 rushing yards as well. And he did not play the last game pretty much, a series or two. When he's on the field he's been apart of their offense.

The big misconception about Watkins is that he is a deep threat WR. Irconicaly thats the part of his game that is most lacking. Watkins is more of a possession WR with top end speed and agility. Even in college Sammy's bread and butter was the short game. In Reid's offense, they way they are using him( backfield, slot, they move him around). He's going to produce quality numbers. The Chiefs offense is too stacked for him to put up monster numbers IMO. In McVay's offense there really wasn't a roll Watkins could excell at. Cooks fits what we needed. A true downfield threat and more.

Watkins isn't elite and probabaly never will be. But he's a better football player then what he showed with the Rams last year

I understnd what you wrote; I don't think he is even near a complete WR in the NFL.....great athelete, great hands...the McNabb of WRs.

 

[SteveBrown]

I was a big Watkins fan last year--I think he was a bigger part of our success than he got credit for. But of course now I'm ALL in on the Cooks train. While I thought we needed that different type of option SW provided us, the coaches are saying the interchangeability of the 3 identical style players we have now is a strength, and yeah I can see how that's the case.

To defend Watkins in LA: Without Watkins the #1 corner would have been on Woods.....our whole season would have been different. No wins against Saints and Titans and maybe others. Sammy had his place. Giving up the # 2 to get a late #3 is more than good enough....Josh Reynolds won't be in the NFL in 2020, that is how good he is