Tag: Sammy Watkins

Packers sign one of Clemson’s all-time receivers

One of Clemson’s all-time receivers is on the move in the NFL, signing a deal with the Green Bay Packers.

Hours after visiting the Green Bay Packers, former Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins has signed a deal with the organization.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Watkins is getting a one-year deal worth up to $4 million. Last season, the former Raven appeared in 13 games, finishing with 394 yards and one touchdown on 27 receptions.

Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2014, Watkins now joins his fifth team in eight years, having previous stints with the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Cheifs and Baltimore Ravens.

The 6-foot-1 wideout played for the Tigers from 2011 to 2013, having one of the most prominent careers in Clemson football history. In his three years of college, Watkins had a career 3,391 yards, a program record that still holds to this day.

Watson has had an up-and-down career, but joining forces with Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers could revitalize him into a consistent threat on one of last season’s best offenses.

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Former Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins to sign one-year deal with Packers

After spending 2021 with the #Ravens, former #Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins is taking his talents to the NFC North.

After spending a season with the Baltimore Ravens, everyone’s favorite advanced reptilian solar being has found a new home.

Former Kansas City Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins was in Green Bay for a visit with the Packers. That visit went exceedingly well as he’s set to sign a one-year contract with the Packers worth up to $4 million per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That’s just a few million less than the contract he signed with the Ravens a year ago.

The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, Watkins is now joining his fifth NFL team in nine seasons, spending three of those seasons in Kansas City. The Chiefs first added Watkins as a free agent ahead of the 2018 NFL season, signing him to a three-year $48-million-dollar deal. He was a crucial piece during the 2019 playoff run that resulted in a Super Bowl LIV win for the team.

The big problem throughout Watkins’ career has been his inability to stay healthy. When healthy, he’s been a key contributor for every offense that he’s played on. During his three seasons in Kansas City, Watkins played in 34 games, starting 31 games. He amassed 129 receptions for over 1,600 yards and eight touchdowns during that span. He also caught 25 receptions for 477 yards and one touchdown during the playoffs dating back to 2018.

The Packers lost both their top receivers this offseason, with Davante Adams being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders and Marquez Valdes-Scantling signing with the Chiefs. Adding a player like Watkins gives Green Bay some veteran depth in a wide receiver room that’s very much still under construction.

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Ravens free agent WR Sammy Watkins to visit Packers

Ravens wide receiver Sammy Watkins is reported to be visiting the Packers

The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Sammy Watkins to a one-year, $6 million deal during the 2021 offseason. While he started off the year strong, he missed time with an injury and never quite regained his footing, ceding snaps to other players at his position.

There hasn’t been much to report on Watkins’ market during the 2022 offseason, but on Thursday it was reported by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network that Watkins is visiting the Green Bay Backers. Garafolo mentions that there is no deal yet, but says to stay tuned.

Watkins finished the 2021 season with 27 receptions for 394 yards and one touchdown while playing in 13 games. He provided good veteran leadership off of the field, and had a few massive moments in Baltimore, including being on the receiving end of a key 4th-and-19 conversion that set up kicker Justin Tuckers’ NFL record 66-yard field goal.

Packers host former Clemson wide receiver

One of Clemson’s all-time receivers could be signing with a new team in the NFL in the coming days.

After an up-and-down career in the NFL, one of Clemson’s all-time wide receivers may find a new home in the coming days.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Green Bay Packers are hosting Sammy Watkins for a visit on Thursday. Watkins played for the Tigers from 2011 to 2013, compiling a Clemson record 3,391 yards in the three-year span.

After being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2014, Watkins has had stints with the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Cheifs and most recently the Baltimore Ravens.

In 13 games as a Raven in 2021, Watkins had 394 yards and one touchdown on 27 receptions. He had his best statistical season in 2015 when he finished with 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns for the Bills.

With a potential move to the Packers, who have quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Watkins could have a bounce-back season in an offense that desperately needs weapons on the outside.

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Packers hosting free agent WR Sammy Watkins on visit

The Packers are hosting free agent wide receiver Sammy Watkins on a visit on Thursday, per NFL Network.

The Green Bay Packers could be inching closer to a veteran addition at wide receiver. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Packers will host free agent Sammy Watkins on a visit on Thursday, setting the stage for a potential signing.

Watkins, 28, was the fourth overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft. He’s played for four different teams, including a one-year stint with Matt LaFleur in Los Angeles in 2017 and last season with the Baltimore Ravens. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and won a Super Bowl as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

Watkins caught 27 passes on 49 targets for 394 yards and a touchdown over 13 games and 458 snaps with the Ravens in 2021.

Over his 99-game career, Watkins has caught 58.5 percent of his targets and averaged 8.5 yards per target. He hasn’t eclipsed 40 catches over 500 receiving yards since the 2019 season.

Injuries have been an issue. He’s missed at least two games in six of his eight NFL seasons.

The Packers could see Watkins as a veteran deep threat who knows the offense and would be able to contribute right away in LaFleur’s offense, potentially as a replacement for Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

During his one season with LaFleur, Watkins caught 39 passes for 593 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. He averaged 15.2 yards per catch and created 10 plays of 20 or more yards.

Last year, Watkins signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Ravens. His price is likely lower now after only producing one touchdown in 2021.

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Two former Tigers ranked among best available NFL free agents

NFL free agency is upon us, and on Wednesday, the third day of free agency, Pro Football Focus released its list of the top 100 remaining players available on the open market. Two former Clemson standouts appeared on the list in safety Jayron Kearse …

NFL free agency is upon us, and on Wednesday, the third day of free agency, Pro Football Focus released its list of the top 100 remaining players available on the open market.

Two former Clemson standouts appeared on the list in safety Jayron Kearse and wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Kearse, who spent the 2021 season with the Dallas Cowboys, is ranked No. 31 on the list.

He had two interceptions, 10 passes defended, a fumble recovery, a sack, nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and 101 total tackles this past season.

“Kearse is at his best using his size and length to cover tight ends one on one as the answer to how that position has developed in recent years,” PFF’s article stated. “He has the size to combat those bigger bodies, but real coverage skills man-to-man. Teams that play a lot of man coverage or matchup zone should consider him specifically for that assignment.”

Watkins, meanwhile, checks in at No. 61 on PFF’s list of the top remaining available free agents.

He recorded 27 receptions for 394 yards and a touchdown with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021.

“Watkins’ best value in the NFL has been going off when all the focus is on another player,” PFF wrote. “He has enough skills to win, and win big, against No. 2 corners or players that can’t match up with him physically, but struggles against elite cover guys and has been fragile.”

–Photo for this article courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

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Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Brandon Streeter rave about freshman receiver

Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter are ecstatic about freshman Adam Randall.

Former Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross left behind a hefty legacy for the next Tiger to don the No. 8 jersey, but a new freshman has already begun to draw high praise from the Tigers’ coaching staff.

Wide receiver Adam Randall is an early enrolled recruit from Myrtle Beach, S.C. Rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports, Randall has received high praise from head coach Dabo Swinney.

“He’s got what I call the ‘eye of the tiger,'” Swinney said on Wednesday. “It’s very natural to him. He loves to compete. He loves to be coached. He’s really come in here with a great foundation, fundamentally and technically. He’s one of those guys that has shown up ready to play.”

Swinney further elaborated by calling Randall one of the three other receivers in Swinney’s 19 years that were immediately ready to play. Sammy Watkins, Ross and sophomore Beaux Collins were the three that Swinney grouped in with Randall.

Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter echoed Swinney’s praise on Wednesday.

“When I think of Adam Randall, I think of grit. I think of a guy that’s working his butt off,” he said. “He’s probably like ‘I can’t believe I’m getting this many reps.’ He is working his tail off.”

Setting aside his talent and attitude, Randall has an impressive 6-foot-two height and weighs 215 pounds, a frame that has also caught the eye of Swinney.

“He’s rare. I don’t know about you; I didn’t see many guys in Pelham High School (Swinney’s alma mater) walking the halls looking like that,” he said. “You could put him in an NFL locker room anywhere in the country, and you’d never pick him out.”

With Randall’s work ethic and size already being compared to NFL talent, Clemson’s wide receiver room may have added another gem on the outside.

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Bleacher Report names one free agent that Ravens shouldn’t re-sign in 2022

Bleacher Report named one free agent that the Ravens shouldn’t re-sign in 2022

The Baltimore Ravens will have plenty of big decisions to make as 2022 free agency begins. They will need to add players at a few of their biggest needs, as well as figure out how to replace some of their own players that could depart for other teams.

When listing out one free agent that each team shouldn’t re-sign in 2022, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report chose wide receiver Sammy Watkins for Baltimore. When explaining his choice, Davenport talked about how Watkins struggled to stay on the field in 2021, a common theme for his NFL career so far.

“As has been the case for so long with Watkins, the 28-year-old had trouble staying on the field last year, missing four games. And when Watkins was out there, he wasn’t especially productive. His 27 catches, 394 receiving yards and one touchdown were all career lows, and Watkins reeled in just 55.1 percent of his targets…Those numbers aren’t worth the $5 million Baltimore paid Watkins last season.”

Ravens have six players on list of top-200 free agents in 2022 by Pro Football Focus

The Ravens have six players on a list of the top 200 free agents of 2022 by Pro Football Focus

The Baltimore Ravens have plenty of their own players that are slated to hit free agency in the next few weeks. The team could look extremely different depending on who stays and who goes, making the team’s moves very important as they look to keep up with the rest of the NFL.

When putting together a list of the top 200 free agents of 2022, Pro Football Focus had Baltimore well represented throughout, with six players on the list. There were two offensive players selected as well as four defensive names for the Ravens, with each of them being extremely talented and contributing to the club in some way over the course of 2021. The rankings for Baltimore players are as follows.

  • No. 30: DL Calais Campbell
  • No. 37: OLB Justin Houston
  • No. 94: C Bradley Bozeman
  • No. 112: WR Sammy Watkins
  • No. 123: S DeShon Elliott
  • No. 191: ILB Josh Bynes

Mysteriously omitted from the list is cornerback Anthony Averett, who many would consider a shoe-in among the top 200 available free agents in 2022. For the players actually on the list, Campbell and Houston made a solid veteran tandem on the Ravens’ front seven, while Bozeman established himself as a premium center option. Watkins and Elliott dealt with different forms of injuries over the year, and Bynes was arguably the savior of Baltimore’s defense.

It remains to be seen how many of these players the Ravens will be able to bring back. It’s unlikely that they all return, but it does show that despite how many injuries they suffered in 2021, Baltimore did have some talented contributors on their team that performed well and helped themselves by having strong contract years.

Spiller names his top five Clemson offensive playmakers ever

Former Clemson great C.J. Spiller was a guest this week on The Players Club Podcast, hosted by former Clemson running back Darien Rencher. The Clemson legend and Tigers’ current running backs coach was asked by Rencher to list the top five offensive …

Former Clemson great C.J. Spiller was a guest this week on The Players Club Podcast, hosted by former Clemson running back Darien Rencher.

The Clemson legend and Tigers’ current running backs coach was asked by Rencher to list the top five offensive playmakers to ever come through Tiger Town, in his opinion.

Spiller, in no particular order, named his top five of running backs Travis Etienne, James Davis and Raymond Priester, quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Spiller also named quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Tajh Boyd, wide receivers Mike Williams and DeAndre Hopkins, and running Andre Ellington as honorable mentions.

You can watch Spiller talk with Rencher about his top five Clemson offensive playmakers ever below:

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