Sammy Watkins on Friday agreed to a $ 6 million one-year deal (which included $ 5 million guaranteed) with the Baltimore Ravens, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Watkins ’incorporation ended the Ravens’ tough pursuit of an experienced wide receiver for quarterback Lamar Jackson and helped increase the NFL’s 32nd passing attack. The 4,665 yards of Watkins ’run are more than double the combined total of Ravens’ current wide receiver lanes (2,032).
If he can stay healthy, Watkins can partner with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown as Baltimore’s starting receivers and complement him as a valuable target below Jackson.
It’s been a tentative attempt for the Ravens to get a veteran receiver for Jackson, which still raises questions about whether broadband receivers want to play in Baltimore’s first offense. The Ravens, who desperately needed a wide receiver in an ever-shrinking group of free agents, watched as JuJu Smith-Schuster turned down a better offer to return to Pittsburgh last week and then lost to TY Hilton, who opted out. to return Wednesday to Indianapolis.
Baltimore finally went with Watkins, who had met with Ravens officials Tuesday before leaving to visit the Colts. When Indianapolis retained Hilton, the Ravens agreed to a deal with Watkins.
Joining Baltimore, Watkins meets with Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and passing game specialist Keith Williams. In Roman’s only full season as Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, Watkins produced professional maximums with 1,047 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2015. Before being hired by the Ravens this year, Williams recently served as a receiving coach. Watkins personal during the low season.
This is the first time Baltimore has signed a wide receiver since the start of free agency since Ravens added Michael Crabtree in 2018. The Ravens ’most significant signings in the past two years have been Seth Roberts and Dez Bryant.
One of the biggest surprises of the Ravens ’low season was that Baltimore didn’t sign a great receiver immediately when he was among the team’s top needs. The Ravens’ big receivers have been ranked last in each of the last two seasons in catches and reception yards, and this group has been ranked among the youngest in the league because of its two more experienced goals (Bryant and Willie Snead IV) are free agents. Prior to joining Watkins, the Ravens’ four widest receivers on his roster – Brown, Miles Boykin, Devin Duvernay and James Proche II – were drafted in the last two years, and none have exceeded 24 years.
Watkins ’signing won’t stop the Ravens from drafting a wide receiver, but it should lessen the need to select one in the first round.
Watkins is just the Ravens ’second free agent signed by another team this offseason. Earlier this month, Baltimore signed guard Kevin Zeitler for a three-year, $ 22.5 million contract.