Much of the piece was about Watkins and some beliefs he has about life in general that would consider to be… unique. Things the article highlighted was some out-of-body experiences he’s had on the football field and claiming to having seen teleportation happen.
Aside from talking about his early career in Buffalo, Watkins highlights he didn’t mesh well with current Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott. It eventually led to his departure from the team prior to the 2017 season. But author of the B/R article, Tyler Dunne, formerly of the Buffalo News, added another interesting tidbit of information to his Watkins feature on Tuesday. Chatting with the Bills’ radio show on WGR-550 radio, Dunne said that Watkins told him he had conversations with the Bills about a reunion in Buffalo.
“As we talked through March, (Watkins) said that the Bills were interested [in bringing him back] and he had been talking to the Bills about coming back here before they traded for Stefon Diggs,” Dunne said.
Bringing Watkins back would have been McDermott and Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane showing they trusted their “process” mightily. Watkins lives in Bills lore a bit, as many other underwhelming draft picks of the team’s past do as well.
Instead, Watkins is fresh off a Super Bowl title with the Chiefs and he’ll be back there in 2020.
But with that early-mismatch with McDermott in mind, did Watkins really think it would workout in western New York this time around? Watkins said he felt McDermott was playing a game of “mental warfare” with him before trading him.
But yup, Watkins reportedly said he is a changed man and he trusted it would or could have worked out.
“He said absolutely,” Dunne said. “The place that he’s at in life, in his words, dealing with all the energy and entities, that he would have made it work.”
Had the Bills signed Watkins to be their No. 1 option instead of Diggs, it would have been a bit of a roll of the dice. Diggs is a proven commodity while Watkins hasn’t exactly shown consistency during his career. If Watkins has corrected his ways and could have mixed with the Bills’ current locker room, his skills certainly would have made for a powerful No. 2 or No. 3 option along with Diggs, John Brown and Cole Beasley.
Instead, all parties might have had a good thing work out for all. Watkins is back with the Chiefs and their title-defending squad. The Bills have their No. 1, and a formidable top-four targets with rookie Gabriel Davis in mind.
At minimal, it appears Watkins at least doesn’t have any hard feelings toward Buffalo, as he also had accepted responsibility for his actions off the field during his prior mentioned B/R chat.
Bleacher Report gave a unique look into the persona, career and life of Kansas City Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins was recently the subject of a long-form feature in B/R Mag. The story offers a look inside the mind of Watkins, covering everything from his struggles in Buffalo to his unique belief system to his redemption in Kansas City. You can check out the full article from Ty Dunne here and I highly suggest reading it in its entirety. Below you’ll find a look at what we learned about Watkins in this story:
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
No one quite like Sammy
“Dreams are not merely dreams. No. Watkins believes we all move through an astral realm in which you can manifest outcomes into the physical world. Like this past AFC Championship Game. Yeah, he made that all happen.
He hears voices that tell him when danger’s near.
He knows, for certain, that ‘words cast spells.‘”
Chiefs fans understand that Watkins is a unique individual. It wasn’t long ago that many were poking fun at his tweets about how he’s “a reptilian solar being.” Dunne’s story about Watkins details the various occult things that Watkins believes in. Aliens, spirits, reincarnation, teleportation, various forms of magic and so on. The above quote is just a glimpse of what Dunne reveals about Watkins. What is perhaps even more interesting than what Watkins believes in is how that influenced certain moments throughout the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning season. And how his teammates and head coach really embrace and accept how Watkins views the world. We’ll get to that in more detail a little bit later.
Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins discusses career with Bleacher Report.
Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins had quite an interview with Bleacher Report.
In it, Watkins explains his feeling behind faith and as he describes, the world around him. Speaking to Tyler Dunne, Watkins got into details about believing in reincarnation and the differences between good and evil. It’s a deep dive.
But Watkins also revealed some background details from his early days in the NFL with the Bills. Buffalo traded a future first-round pick to land Watkins with the No. 4 overall pick. In his Bills career, Watkins had 153 catches, 2,459 yards and 17 touchdowns.
While that’s the best number he’s put up with any team he’s played for thus far (Chiefs, Rams), the Bills never got their return in investment on the receiver and eventually traded him in 2017 for EJ Gaines and a second-round pick.
In addition to his beliefs, Watkins also gave some reasoning behind why he struggled with injury and production during his time with the Bills. Via B/R, Watkins said at 21 he was partying and drinking “every night.”
The most telling quote from Watkins:
“I would go out and get wasted,” he says. “Wasted wasted.”
Throughout the story, Watkins does discuss a deep dive into hardships he’s faced in his life, including that he was “fighting a war outside of football.” Watkins had hardships hit family and friends all around him, leading to erratic behavior.
After getting into deep religious and philosophical study, Watkins then discussed his departure from Buffalo. Per Watkins, he felt like Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott was waging sort of a “mental warfare” and eventually Watkins got his wish of being traded, although he says he never formally requested a trade.
While everyone has their different beliefs, Watkins certainly has some unique ones that’s not new as he’s taken to social media in the past to discuss them:
I’m a whole different species im convince im not a human never was im more like a advance reptilian solar being I’m very powerful it’s kinda scares me lol… 🤔🤫🤭🤗😂
Watkins previously carried a $21 million dollar cap hit for the 2020 NFL season. It was a number that was entirely too much for the Chiefs to handle in 2020, which left only a handful of options for Kansas City. They could cut or trade Watkins and save $14 million against the salary cap. They opted for the other option which was to restructure his contract and keep him for the 2020 NFL season.
Really this was a win-win situation for all parties. The wide receiver market has been weak in free agency this offseason. Were Watkins to hit that market, he’d likely be unable to recoup anything close to the deal just received. The Chiefs get to keep Watkins — a player they like who is familiar with the offensive scheme — at a much lower cap number.
Here’s a look at the base salary, bonus numbers and cap numbers on Watkins’ new deal courtesy of OverTheCap:
Year
Base Salary
Signing Bonus
Per game
Other
Cap Hit
Dead Cap
2020
$7,000,000
$8,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,250,000
$17,250,000
$7,000,000
The latest estimation by OverTheCap puts the Chiefs at $3.4 million in total cap space. This number is likely a little different in the Chiefs’ personal accounting because a portion of that money won’t have to be paid until later on. The new deal for Watkins is full of incentives to compensate for the restructured deal. He can earn up to $6 million in performance and postseason incentives according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Here is the breakdown of those incentives courtesy of Garafolo:
If Watkins reaches eight touchdowns and the team makes playoffs he makes $750K.
If Watkins records 65 catches and the team makes the playoffs he makes $750K.
If Watkins records 800 yards and the team makes the playoffs he makes $750K.
If the team wins the AFC Championship game and Watkins plays 50% snaps he makes $1.25 million.
If Watkins records 65 catches and the team gets to the AFC Championship game he makes $1.25 million.
If Watkins records 800 yards and the team gets to the AFC Championship game he makes $1.25 million.
These are some pretty lofty goals for Watkins as 65 receptions are his career-high and he’s only twice reached 800 yards receiving and eight touchdowns in a season. The postseason and AFC Championship game will likely be the most attainable portions of these incentives for Watkins.
One unique note about Watkins’ contract is that he now has a no-trade clause. That means Brett Veach can’t turn around and trade Watkins during the 2020 NFL season unless Watkins were to waive that no-trade clause.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will continue to have a full complement weapons at his disposal in 2020.
A position group that was thought to be assuredly changing in 2020, will remain the same for the Kansas City Chiefs.
They’re set to return their entire receiving corp from their Super Bowl LIV championship roster. That was made official today when news of a restructured contract for WR Sammy Watkins was revealed. The Chiefs also brought back WR Demarcus Robinson on a one-year deal earlier in the free agency period. As we approach the 2020 NFL draft, the Chiefs have kept their group together in hopes of repeating a Super Bowl title in 2020.
Here’s a look at the 2020 receiving group and their regular-season stats from 2019:
Tyreek Hill – 58 catches for 860 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019.
Sammy Watkins – 50 catches for 673 yards and three touchdowns in 2019.
Demarcus Robinson – 32 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns in 2019.
Mecole Hardman – 26 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns in 2019.
Byron Pringle – 12 catches 170 yards and one touchdown in 2019.
Gehrig Dieter – 2 tackles on special teams in 2019.
Jody Fortson – Practice squad in 2019.
Felton Davis – Injured in 2019.
This doesn’t even include the Chiefs’ receiving leader Travis Kelce, who is technically a tight end. The news that Kansas City is returning their entire group of pass-catchers should strike fear into the hearts of NFL defenses. The Chiefs had the fourth-most receiving yards in the NFL in 2019 with 4,690 yards throughout the regular-season.
Watkins, in particular, has played a huge role in the Chiefs’ postseason success over the past two seasons. When teams sought to take away players like Hill and Kelce, Watkins always was the guy to come up with the clutch plays. During the postseason, he’s caught a total of 24 passes for 464 yards and a touchdown in Kansas City. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is 24 of 34 when targeting Watkins in the postseason, good for a 71% completion rate.
Now that Mahomes will have his full complement of weapons for the 2020 NFL season, it’ll allow the focuses in the NFL draft to shift in Kansas City. They won’t necessarily have to look for immediate contributors on the offensive side of the ball at the receiver position. They can look for players later in the draft or in undrafted free agency who could be ready to take on a bigger role in 2021.
Watkins and the Chiefs struck a deal which will bring him back to Kansas City for the 2020 season and free up valuable salary-cap space.
The Kansas City Chiefs have figured out a way to fix their salary cap problem and keep wide receiver Sammy Watkins for the 2020 NFL season.
Watkins and the Chiefs agreed to a restructured contract for 2020 as first reported by Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor. The restructured deal lowers Watkins’ cap hit from $21 million to $16 million, creating roughly $5 million in salary-cap space. That just so happens to be the amount needed for the Chiefs to sign their draft class at the end of the month.
The restructured deal for Watkins also includes a very rare no-trade clause for Watkins, ensuring that he stays in Kansas City for the duration of the 2020 NFL season. The one-year deal in 2020 includes a base salary worth $9 million and is heavy on incentives, with money attached to playtime, touchdowns, playoffs and more.
Just yesterday, Andy Reid spoke about the potential for a restructured contract with Watkins.
“Well, we’ll see how that goes,” Reid said. “There’s a ton of time here. We’ll see how all of that works out. Right now, he’s here. That’s the positive part. We sure like Sammy, he’s done a great job for us. And as good a player as he is, he’s even a better person. We’ve really enjoyed him being here. Other than that, I can’t really lead you on either way because Brett (Veach), that’s his area, I’m honestly not dealing with it.”
The Chiefs maintained they wanted Watkins back throughout this process and Watkins maintained he wanted to be in Kansas City. Even though they had a ton of time to work that out, they got it done early to give them some flexibility in the weeks ahead.
Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins calling for “reunion” with Kansas City Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins.
Fresh off of a Super Bowl victory with the Kansas City Chiefs, wide receiver Sammy Watkins is seemingly on the lookout for his next destination. The former Buffalo Bill tweeted “Where is my next adventure gonna be at..!” hinting that his recent contract negotiations with the Chiefs aren’t going according to plan. Cue DeAndre Hopkins to intervene.
The All-Pro receiver with the Houston Texans has tweeted suggesting Bill O’Brien’s side bring in his former Clemson teammate.
Watkins showcased his notorious pace throughout the 2019 season recording 673 receiving yards and three touchdowns during the regular season, forming a potent receiving trio alongside Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman.
If the Chiefs were to make Watkins a salary cap casualty, he would be a logical target for the Texans. With wide receiver, Will Fuller set to hit free agency in 2021 and given his injury history since being drafted back in 2016, Watkins would be somewhat of a straight swap in the lineup.
Watkins himself has had troubles staying on the field, having only played one full season back in his rookie 2014 campaign. However, having played 14 regular-season games in 2019 as well as all three postseason games, he seems to be on the path back to the electric form he showed in 2014 and 2015 in particular.
The duo played together for the Tigers from 2011 to 2012, with Hopkins calling Watkins “my brother.” With Deshaun Watson, a fellow Clemson alumnus in at quarterback for the Texans, perhaps its time for Houston to complete their Tigers reunion with Watkins the final piece of the puzzle.
The salary cap situation is complicated for the Kansas City Chiefs due to new CBA negotiations.
As the Kansas City Chiefs look to ensure that star players like DT Chris Jones and WR Sammy Watkins remain with the team in 2020, they anxiously await an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
General Manager Brett Veach has meetings scheduled with representation for both Watkins and Jones. Watkins is under contract for the 2020 season, but his high salary cap hit is untenable. Jones is scheduled to become a free agent and he’s a player they’re working toward retaining.
“Sammy (Watkins) is a guy like Chris (Jones) that we’re going to have a dialogue with this week,” Veach said. “There are certainly different options and different scenarios that could play out with him. He’s a guy that we do want back. These are good problems to have because you win the Super Bowl, you obviously have a lot of good players and they make a lot of money. Sammy is a guy that, as you mentioned, he’s been critical to our playoff success. Just having a dialogue, again, we’ll meet with the Katz Brothers (Jones’ agents) and we’ll meet with Tory Dandy (Watkins’ agent). We have a good relationship with these guys and we’ll sit down and we’ll talk about the landscape, where we are and what makes sense.”
Veach is confident that his personnel staff will be able to meet the challenge of retaining these players head-on. At the same time, the impasse currently holding things up is uncertainty surrounding a new CBA.
“Going back to my personnel staff, I also have a great cap staff,” Veach said. “Brandt Tilis and Chris Shea do a tremendous job. It’s challenging but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I think just working through the breakdowns and just the dispersals, a lot of this we just have to wait until the new CBA and see how that looks. It’s always a challenge. I think when you have guys as talented as Chris (Jones) and these other players, you’re going to turn over every scenario.”
Dispersal’s and how the Chiefs’ front office structures contracts will differ, based on how the NFL’s salary cap rises each year in the new CBA. You can’t look at the salary cap in a vacuum, with just the 2020 season in mind. In the proposed CBA, there wouldn’t be much of a jump in the first year compared to current projections, but down the line, there could be more dramatic increases.
Right now, Tilis and Shea are using the information gained in the meetings with agents and working through all the hypothetical scenarios. Once a new CBA is agreed upon, they’ll be able to further narrow down a proper contract for Jones and an extension with a year one restructure for Watkins.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor, there will not be a player vote on the new CBA today, but they’re expected to vote sooner than later. NFL owners have already voted to approve the new CBA agreement.
It’s the harshest part of the NFL year: When teams cut over-priced veterans.
Haven’t had time to catch your breath since the end of the 2019 NFL season? Well, too bad. We’re already just a month out from the start of free agency, and with a stacked group hitting the open market in March, teams across the league will be trimming the fat off their rosters over the next month in order to free up cap space (cuts actually began last week, with the Redskins getting rid of Josh Norman and the Ravens jettisoning Tony Jefferson.)
Some of the cuts could include some big-name players who will only add to this year’s crop of free agents. We’ve picked out 20 players who could be on the chopping block over the next few weeks…
1. Andy Dalton, QB Bengals
Cap savings: $17.7 million
In most offseasons, the Bengals would be able to get something of value in return for a solid starting QB like Dalton. But with a number of veteran passers hitting the market, this isn’t one of those offseasons. It’s essentially a lock that Joe Burrow will be Cincinnati’s starting quarterback next fall and Dalton has no dead money remaining on his deal. He’ll have a new home in 2020.
2. Olivier Vernon, DE Browns
Cap savings: $15.5 million
A year after trading an all-pro guard for Vernon, the Browns may have to move on. While Vernon was productive in his first season in Cleveland, the production did not match the price. He’s slated to cost the Browns $15.5 million in 2020, but none of that money is guaranteed. Maybe the front office can find a team desperate enough to trade for Vernon but it’s unlikely.
3. Sammy Watkins, WR Chiefs
Cap savings: $14 million
We tend to underrate the importance of Watkins to the Chiefs offense, as his ability to beat man coverage on the perimeter helps to open things up for Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, but I don’t know if the value he provides is worth $21 million, which will be his cap hit for the 2020 season. If Kansas City can’t find a trade partner, they may have to just cut Watkins loose for nothing in return. Well, except for an extra $14 million in cap space, that is.
4. Everson Griffen, DE Vikings
Cap savings: $13.1 million
Before the Vikings cut Griffen, they’ll likely shop him around and see if they can get anything back in a trade. He’s on the downside of his career but remains a useful pass rusher. Just not a pass rusher worth the $13.9 million it would cost Minnesota to keep him.
5. A.J. Bouye, CB Jaguars
Cap savings: $11.4 million
After a good start in Jacksonville, Bouye’s production has declined and he’s coming off his worst season with the Jags. With only $4 million in guaranteed money left on his deal and a 2020 cap hit of nearly $15.5 million, Jacksonville has no choice but to move on. If the front office can’t find a trade partner, Bouye will likely be released.
6. Janoris Jenkins, CB Saints
Cap savings: $11.3 million
The Saints could very well want Jenkins back in 2020 but not at $11.3 million. With no guaranteed money left on his deal, Jenkins doesn’t have any leverage. If he wants to stay in New Orleans, he’ll have to agree to a paycut. Otherwise, he’ll find himself on the open market this offseason.
7. Prince Amukamara, CB Bears
Cap savings: $9 million
While it’s hard to just part ways with a reliable starting corner like Amukamara, the Bears are strapped for cash, and the veteran’s price tag is a bit steep. There could be interest if Chicago puts him on the trade block but teams know he doesn’t have a future with the Bears.
8. Dont’a Hightower, LB Patriots
Cap savings: $8.8 million
We know Bill Belichick doesn’t do the whole sympathy thing. Hightower was a great player for him for a long time, but he’s on the downside of his career and the $8.8 million the Patriots could save by releasing him would help the team bring back Tom Brady and find him some weapons to work with. Hightower could very well return to New England at a lower price after testing the open market.
9. Jordan Reed, TE Redskins
(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Cap savings: $8.5 million
We can officially stop with the “if healthy” qualifier on Reed. He just completed his sixth season in the NFL and has yet to start more than nine games in a year. After scoring 11 touchdowns and earning a monster extension in 2015, Reed has found the end zone just 10 times over the last three seasons. It’s time for Washington to cut its losses and move on with an extra $8.5 million to spend this offseason.
10. Alec Ogletree, LB Giants
Cap savings: $8.3 million
The Giants are nearly off the hook for the awful trade they made during the 2018 offseason in which they gave up two picks for Ogletree. You wouldn’t know it by looking at his contract, but Ogletree has been one of the worst linebackers in the league — maybe THE worst — over the past few years. He was also one of the highest-paid players at his position. That will no longer be the case.
11. Jimmy Graham, TE Packers
Cap savings: $8 million
The days of Graham being an elite receiving threat have long passed. Graham has stayed healthy in Green Bay, but he’s averaged just 46.5 receptions, 541 yards and 2.5 touchdowns over the last two years. Those are mid-level starter numbers. But, with an $11.7 million cap hit in 2020, Graham is still being paid like a top tight end. The Packers can save all but $3.7 million of that by cutting the former star.
12. Tyrone Crawford, DT Cowboys
Cap savings: $8 million
The Cowboys could see Crawford’s $9 million price tag as reasonable for a player who has proven productive when healthy. But with Dallas needing to re-sign Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Byron Jones this offseason, it’s going to be hard to just pass up on the $8 million it can save by parting ways with Crawford.
13. Trent Murphy, OLB Bills
Cap savings: $8 million
Murphy has been solid when he’s been able to stay on the field. But he’s missed a lot of time and has a big cap hit for a player who doesn’t make a meaningful impact. The Bills have more pressing needs and the $8 million they can save by cutting Murphy could go a long way.
14. Kiko Alonso, LB Saints
Cap savings: $7 million
Alonso is coming off his best season in years, but once again ended up on IR. Between his injury history and inconsistent track record, it’s hard to see the Saints holding onto Alonso with an $8.7 million cap hit.
15. Damon Harrison, DT Lions
Cap savings: $6.8 million
It’s always hard to justify spending a lot of money on a run defender, even one as good as Harrison once was. But the big defensive tackle’s play slipped in 2019 and he’s on the wrong side of 30. With a pivotal offseason ahead for Detroit’s front office and coaching staff, they could surely use an extra $6.8 million to help build the roster.
16. Mohamad Sanu, WR Patriots
Cap savings: $6.5 million
Hindsight is 20/20 but even at the time, the Patriots trading a second-round pick for Sanu reeked of desperation. And after Sanu struggled to fit in with the offense, cutting ties looks like the smartest move for an organization that could have to cough up a lot of money to get its quarterback situation settled. Cutting Sanu wouldn’t cost the Patriots any dead money while freeing up $6.5 million.
17. Delanie Walker, TE Titans
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Cap savings: $6.4 million
Not too long ago, Walker was one of the NFL’s best tight ends. But after a few significant injuries, that is no longer the case. And the Titans have an exciting tight end prospect in Jonnu Smith ahead of him on the depth chart. Unless Walker agrees to a pay cut, his days in Tennessee are likely numbered.
18. Jerick McKinnon or Tevin Coleman, RB 49ers
Cap savings: $4.5 million or $4.9 million
One’s gotta go. The obvious choice appears to be McKinnon, who has yet to play a game with the 49ers after signing a big contract two years ago. But cutting him would also come with a $4 million cap charge, while cutting Coleman would leave no dead money left behind. So keeping McKinnon and cutting Coleman would save the 49ers an additional $500,000 in cap room. Of course, the 49ers could just cut both and save nearly $10 million. That’s probably the best move.
19. Stephen Gostkowski, K Patriots
Cap savings: $3.9 million
That’s right, people. We’re cutting kickers! Gostkowski is one of the league’s highest-paid kickers and is coming off the worst season of his career. The $3.9 million New England can save by cutting Gostkowski is higher than the 2020 cap hit of all but eight NFL kickers. Belichick has moved on from more important players for less money.
20. Devonta Freeman, RB Falcons
Cap savings: $3 million
The Falcons do not get criticized nearly enough for the contract they gave Devonta Freeman in 2016, which was immediately followed by a sharp decline in production. Freeman is only 27 but he looks five years older than that on film. He’ll carry a $9.3 million cap hit into 2020, and Atlanta would have to eat $6 million of that to part ways. As bad as that sounds, the Falcons could really use that extra $3 million in cap space this offseason.
The Baltimore Ravens love a bargain in free agency and could look to other teams’ salary cap casualties this offseason to fill needs cheaply
NFL free agency comes in a few waves every year. Though all the attention is focused on the big-name players who have expiring contracts, the salary-cap casualties are often the free agents the Baltimore Ravens are most interested in. Around the NFL’s Gregg Rosenthal looked at a bunch of players who could get cut this offseason.
Though they have more salary-cap space expected than in previous years, I’d suspect that will once again be their strategy this offseason as they look to fill their needs with value additions.
In addition to typically being cheaper options, cut players don’t count against the compensatory pick formula. The Ravens love to play against that formula to get something in return for departing players they couldn’t afford. With outside linebacker Matthew Judon among the 21 pending free agents potentially on the way out, being savvy with who they sign would be wise for Baltimore to once again game that system this year.
Here are the 9 potential cuts that would be intriguing for the Ravens this offseason.
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
EDGE Trent Murphy, Buffalo Bills
Though Murphy never quite lived up to his second-round status for the Washington Redskins, he’s still been a productive member of the Bills since being drafted. Over the last three years, Murphy has 18 sacks and started 26 of the 45 games he’s been active for.
He’s not the star player many fans would want but he’s an impact contributor who could likely be signed for a steal when compared to the top pass rushers that will hit free agency. If the Ravens are trying to completely restock their outside linebacker depth chart this offseason, Murphy would likely find a good role given Baltimore only had one player (Matthew Judon) with more sacks in 2019.
