It was reported early Thursday that free-agent wide receiver Sammy Watkins was visiting with the Green Bay Packers. Apparently, that meeting went very well because, according to Adam Schefter, Watkins has signed a one-year deal with the NFL franchise worth up to $4 million.
Packers are giving former Ravens’ WR Sammy Watkins a one-year deal worth up to $4 million, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2022
The Packers were in desperate need of wide receiving threats to replace the loss of Davante Adams, whom they traded earlier in the offseason. The news has to make recently re-signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers happy as he’ll be getting a potentially solid weapon to work with when it comes to Watkins.
The Clemson product was drafted by the Buffalo Bills fourth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft but injuries derailed his time there and he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. After catching eight touchdowns in 15 games there, Watkins parlayed that into a three-year, $48 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. However, he has seen his role diminish in recent years with the Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, whom he played for last year.
The 28-year-old is coming off a year in which he caught 27 passes for 394 yards and one touchdown in a run-first offense. The hope is that he’ll be able to see a return to statistical form catching passes from Rodgers in Green Bay.
The news certainly caused plenty of reactions around the NFL world.
In other words, not $4M. https://t.co/QYdBz6A3ub
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) April 14, 2022
There was a brief time in 2018 where it was believed Sammy Watkins was a #Bears primary target.
Four years after signing a big deal with the Chiefs, Watkins gets a one-year “prove it” deal with the Packers. https://t.co/CEp1FAOCtr
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) April 14, 2022
So the Packers have added a veteran receiver. Maybe the streak of no first-round receivers continues after all. https://t.co/atFp8JmA9j
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) April 14, 2022
Would say that eliminates them from signing Jarvis… https://t.co/rBTO7p4qmq
— Offseason Chopz (@Pchopz_) April 14, 2022
Sammy Watkins becomes 10th Ravens free agent to sign elsewhere. All have signed one-year deals. https://t.co/IwLJK1eKlI
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) April 14, 2022
What we need out of this is a Sammy Watkins-Aaron Rodgers podcast. https://t.co/sV7qGdc8gY
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) April 14, 2022
The 2022 Green Bay Packers are going to be a fascinating experiment to watch all NFL season long. For Watkins, it’s going to be a season to prove he’s still got it.
