Sammy Watkins mulling sitting out 2020 season

[Hoover]

Link

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.

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.

[notorious]

****!

[Eleazar]

Releasing him makes the most sense unless he wants to sign a team-friendly deal. He's been a great player for us when it mattered most, but we've got too many higher priorities at this point.

[FloridaMan88]

I really hope Sammy Watkins is back with the Chiefs next year.

His performance in the postseason was great, and the Chiefs offense has struggled (or relatively struggled by their standards) in the games he has missed due to injury.

[treeguy27]

This really drives his price down. It's gonna be hard for his agent to negotiate with any team when Watkins' desire and "want to" are going to be in question. I'd be fine with signing him to an extremely team friendly contract, but all of this makes me nervous about how hard he might work to improve and overcome any injuries.

Props to him for all he did this season in the SB run, but there's a lot to be concerned about moving forward.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

I’ll be honest. All the stuff about wanting to focus on individual goals now scares me.

The reason things worked so well here is he didn’t bitch about not getting the ball enough.

[O.city]

If you want to really up your numbers, i'd think being in an offense with Mahomes and led by Andy Reid would be your best option, no?

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by O.city

If you want to really up your numbers, i'd think being in an offense with Mahomes and led by Andy Reid would be your best option, no?

Honestly, no.

As long as Kelce and Hill are around, he’s never going to get Pro Bowl level targets.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Honestly, no.

As long as Kelce and Hill are around, he’s never going to get Pro Bowl level targets.

As much as the Chiefs throw it around, sure he would. Stay healthy and on the field and you'll have your touches.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by treeguy27

This really drives his price down. It's gonna be hard for his agent to negotiate with any team when Watkins' desire and "want to" are going to be in question. I'd be fine with signing him to an extremely team friendly contract, but all of this makes me nervous about how hard he might work to improve and overcome any injuries.

Props to him for all he did this season in the SB run, but there's a lot to be concerned about moving forward.

Yeah, you definitely do not want invest much money in him if he talking like this. Who’s to say he won’t pull an Andrew Luck? Or what Eddie Kennison did in Denver (worked out for, but...). That’s just a risk I am not interested in.

[FringeNC]

He had two years not getting double-teamed to put up huge numbers and he didn't because he couldn't stay healthy. I'd love to have him back if the sides can make the numbers work, and if we wants big numbers, he'll get them here if stays healthy for a season.

[RunKC]

Good thing this draft is loaded with quality WR’s. We hold all the cards.

Andy Reid is better than anyone at finding weapons

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by O.city

As much as the Chiefs throw it around, sure he would. Stay healthy and on the field and you'll have your touches.

I mean maybe if Mahomes doesn’t have any injuries, Watkins plays all 16 games. Maybe.

Even then I still think he’d need Hill or Kelce to miss time.

It’s really hard to put up top 4 AFC WR numbers in an offense where you’re the 3rd guy. Not even including the RB.

That being said, he isn’t guaranteed to do any better elsewhere necessarily. But he would probably get more opportunities.

Personally, if he wants a real, life lasting legacy, stay with KC and be known as a key piece to one of the best offenses ever.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

Honestly, no.

As long as Kelce and Hill are around, he’s never going to get Pro Bowl level targets.

He had a ton of targets this year

90 vs 89 for Tyreek

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

He had a ton of targets this year

90 vs 89 for Tyreek

Reek also missed more games than Watkins did.