Five Kansas City Chiefs players who deserve an apology

Sammy Watkins

Similarly to Clark, the 6’1″ 210-lb. Sammy Watkins came to Kansas City with extremely high expectations after inking a mammoth three-year, $48 million free agent contract in 2018. With the hopes of equipping then-first-year-starter Patrick Mahomes with as many tools as possible, the Chiefs threw the bank at Watkins.

Results were underwhelming. Playing in just ten games due to injuries, Watkins amassed 40 catches for 519 yards in his first season as a Chief. His reputation of being injury-prone burgeoned among Chiefs fans – and for good reason. To date, Watkins has missed 20 games in his six-year career. And though the 2019 season started with a bang as the 26-year-old Watkins hauled in nine passes for 198 yards and three scores, it would end up being the only time this season that he passed the 70-yard marker.

Always a danger in the open field, Watkins was expected to carry the load while fellow receiver Tyreek Hill missed four games with an injury. For whatever reason, his targets dwindled even though the Chiefs continued to lean into other parts of their passing game.

But something happens in January.

Looking back to the 2019 AFC Championship Game, Watkins’ 54-yard reception sparked a furious rally that brought the Chiefs to overtime against the Patriots. And now in 2020, Watkins has once again shown signs of what made him the fourth-overall pick in 2014. His 76-yard effort against the Texans was his best game since Week 1, and then he surpassed even that with a 7/114/1 line against the Titans in the AFC Championship Game. His 60-yard touchdown catch in the 4th quarter sealed the Chiefs’ first Super Bowl berth in 50 years.

Rumors continue to swirl around his future with the Chiefs, but as for the “what have you done for me lately” factor, Sammy Watkins has a strong case to make to his detractors.