Josina Anderson of ESPN reports that free agent WR Sammy Watkins is open to returning to the Rams, but he’s anticipating a “very strong market” in the coming days.
This comes shortly after the news that the Rams have officially applied their franchise tag to S Lamarcus Joyner. Reports said that Watkins was a candidate for the tag, but it would have cost L.A. around $15,682,000 to tag him and just $10,896,000 for Joyner.
Watkins is now position to cash in big as one of the best receivers in this year’s free agent market.
Watkins, 24, was taken with the No. 4 overall pick back in 2014 after the Bills traded up to get him. The Bills traded him and a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Rams in return for CB E.J. Gaines and a 2018 second-round pick during the preseason.
Watkins played out the final year of his four-year, $19.935 million rookie contract and is now in position to be an unrestricted free agent in the coming months. The Bills somewhat surprisingly declined to pick up Watkins’ fifth-year option last year.
In 2017, Watkins appeared in 15 games for the Rams and caught 39 passes for 593 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 40 receiver out of 120 qualifying players.
We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2018 NFL Free Agents list.
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