NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero says the latest report out of Kansas City has the team working to find a way to keep Sammy Watkins.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a long list of free agents hitting the open market, like every other NFL franchise, in the next month along with key figures over whom serious decisions loom. However, two primary names who serve as dominant talking points until decisions are made about them one way or another: wide receiver Sammy Watkins and defensive lineman Chris Jones.
Watkins is entering the third and final year of his $48 million contract with the Chiefs signed before the 2018 season. Even when it was signed, it was criticized for resetting the market at wide receiver, especially for a former Top 10 pick who had yet to stay healthy or consistent enough to justify such a price tag.
Looking back now, it’s impossible to call it a bad deal for general manager Brett Veach and the Chiefs especially since they’re hosting a championship parade on Wednesday. Say what you want about costs, but the formula worked. Watkins came up big in the playoffs time and again, and the Chiefs are lifting the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in 50 years.
In recent weeks, the looming decision around Watkins’ final season has come into view. Specifically, Watkins already had the single biggest cap hit of any wideout in football in 2019 and he’s scheduled to have the same at this point for 2020 with a whopping $21 million total price tag. Given the rising costs of other players—Tyreek Hill, Chris Jones, Frank Clark, Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Mahomes—the idea of swallowing that bill just seems impossible.
However, the latest report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero says the Chiefs are doing everything they can to try to bring him back:
"My understanding is that the Chiefs would like to have Sammy Watkins back … The issue here is really the money. Watkins is due $14 million in the final year of his contract, a cap number of $21 million. It may become difficult especially because Watkins knows if he were available, there would be a big market out there for him. Expect the Chiefs to try to figure out if there’s a solution to keep Watkins around."
This matches some recent quotes from Sammy Watkins saying he would be willing to at least consider a pay cut to return to the Chiefs. “I don’t want to say I will be (open to a pay cut). I don’t want to say I won’t,” he said to NFL.com.
If the Chiefs can work out the numbers, it makes sense to keep Watkins for at least another year beyond 2020 in K.C. He won’t turn 27 until next summer, and he’s been a major contributor when it matters most. When Tyreek Hill went down in Week 1, Watkins responded with 3 touchdowns and 198 receiving yards. He’s averaged 93 yards/game for the Chiefs in 5 playoff appearances including 5 catches for 98 yards in the Chiefs Super Bowl victory over the 49ers.
Still the free agent market awaits Watkins where he might be able to earn considerable money, and the Chiefs have to remain concerned about Watkins lack of consistency and injury history.
Interest is there on both sides so anything is possible. Will Watkins be back? Will he return? That’s up to both sides in the sort of tightrope situation that makes Veach’s job quite difficult.