Good read on Watkins

[Oaf]

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/04/15/sammy-...son-nfl-draft/ (pre-draft article from last year)

I've already wondered why the NFL/Bills were so high on SW given his college production and measurables. 1st round pick? Definitely. Top 5, worth two 1st rounders, auto pro-bowler like many analysts say? I just don't think I understand that yet. The article doesn't go one way or another, but raises those similar questions.

[Night Train]

Re: Good read on Watkins

Watkins didn't broker the trade, so I hold nothing against him. He's a great kid and a super talent. People misdirect their anger towards him, rather than Whaley or whoever pushed for the trade. Now that the current draft is coming up and the 1st rounder is missing, many revisit their anger.

I like Watkins, Woods and Hogan as our starters. They need a QB to get them the ball, so the team isn't overly dependent on the running game. This QB class in the draft looks bad beyond the top 2, so a Vet must be found.

[swiper]

Re: Good read on Watkins

I haven't seen anyone misdirect anger towards Watkins over Whaley making that trade. Whaley's legacy is being written by his getting/not getting a viable QB. That trade will be linked to that. But if he was ever going to give up a first (while needing a QB) it was good to be done in this draft.

I liked the line-up with Watkins, Woods, Goodwin and Mike Williams better than the one with Hogan (Mr. I can't get to the first down marker).

[Skooby]

Re: Good read on Watkins

Watkins is the best WR we've had since Moulds in his prime, it's crazy to second guess this move.

[YardRat]

Re: Good read on Watkins

The kid has mitts...yeah, he can improve in areas (route running, for example) but what rookie/2nd year player can't? If he can stay healthy and playing through 'dings' doesn't become a major factor, he's going to be really good for a long time.

[Goobylal]

Re: Good read on Watkins

Take a look at the CB's he was facing during the season, versus some of the other highly-touted rookies. And then look who was throwing to him compared to them as well.

[K-Gun]

Re: Good read on Watkins

I like Watkins as a player, but my preference was to trade down to the mid-1st and draft Kelvin Benjamin.

[DesertFox24]

Re: Good read on Watkins

Can we wait till they finish their third season before we start throwing the book at Sammy. Sammy has Jerry Rice ability and by that I mean could be the GOAT. Granted he will need a QB, but he has that type of talent, he is taller than average, longer arms, better catch radius that Evans, vert and explosion, plus great route runner ALREADY.

To be fair it is hard to justify moving up for a WR when you do not have a WR and that is a fair statement but he is a bill and when all is said and done if he becomes a HOF which he has the potential then this trade was worth it.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Re: Good read on Watkins

Can we wait till they finish their third season before we start throwing the book at Sammy. Sammy has Jerry Rice ability and by that I mean could be the GOAT. Granted he will need a QB, but he has that type of talent, he is taller than average, longer arms, better catch radius that Evans, vert and explosion, plus great route runner ALREADY.

To be fair it is hard to justify moving up for a WR when you do not have a WR and that is a fair statement but he is a bill and when all is said and done if he becomes a HOF which he has the potential then this trade was worth it.

Not taller than average, does not have long arms and has a very average vertical.... did you read the article?

[Meathead]

Re: Good read on Watkins

hes really gonna need to be great as in top five for a long string of seasons to totally justify the price but even if hes only very good it was a good pick. im hoping the minimum we get out of him is the next steve smith without being a total douchehole

[X-Era]

Re: Good read on Watkins

Watkins didn't broker the trade, so I hold nothing against him. He's a great kid and a super talent. People misdirect their anger towards him, rather than Whaley or whoever pushed for the trade. Now that the current draft is coming up and the 1st rounder is missing, many revisit their anger.

I like Watkins, Woods and Hogan as our starters. They need a QB to get them the ball, so the team isn't overly dependent on the running game. This QB class in the draft looks bad beyond the top 2, so a Vet must be found.

I want a rugged possession guy. But I wouldn't mind a guy that can also return from the draft like Tyler Lockett or Devin Smith.

Miles Austin or Kenny Britt but not for a big contract.

[The Jokeman]

Re: Good read on Watkins

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/04/15/sammy-...son-nfl-draft/ (pre-draft article from last year)

I've already wondered why the NFL/Bills were so high on SW given his college production and measurables. 1st round pick? Definitely. Top 5, worth two 1st rounders, auto pro-bowler like many analysts say? I just don't think I understand that yet. The article doesn't go one way or another, but raises those similar questions.

I posted this article after we drafted him as the notes about Sammy not being as big/physical as some of the other elite WRs taken before him made me question him. As I was someone who didn't buy into the pre-draft Watkins hype I have to admit after seeing him play last year he won me over. I know in retrospect it's easy to say we could have had Beckham and still had the 19th overall pick this year but quite frankly I don't think Beckham put up the numbers he put up with the Giants here. Also if you look at what the Browns have gotten so far in return (Jason Gilbert) I'd say the Bills have done better in the trade thus far. As one could say he's cost us a CB who didn't do much his rookie year and player X and player Y. If you go by predraft rankings player X could be another WR but not one who predicts to be as dynamic as Sammy and Player Y (our 4th rounder) I haven't studied but don't imagine he be an impact guy.

[Oaf]

Re: Good read on Watkins

Watkins didn't broker the trade, so I hold nothing against him. He's a great kid and a super talent. People misdirect their anger towards him, rather than Whaley or whoever pushed for the trade.

I hope my post didn't come off as "throwing the book" on Sammy. Like EJ and Donte Whitner, he couldn't control where he was picked and I have nothing against him or even his performance. I guess since we spent two 1sts on him, I've wondered as to the Bills'/NFL's evaluation of him to be a gamebreaker/top 5 pick. I did not see that RB "bowling" ability translate into his YAC last year, either. That might come with time though.

[Kenny]

Re: Good read on Watkins

I hope my post didn't come off as "throwing the book" on Sammy. Like EJ and Donte Whitner, he couldn't control where he was picked and I have nothing against him or even his performance. I guess since we spent two 1sts on him, I've wondered as to the Bills'/NFL's evaluation of him to be a gamebreaker/top 5 pick. I did not see that RB "bowling" ability translate into his YAC last year, either. That might come with time though.

Well, unlike EJ and Donte, I dont think he was a reach. People can argue whether the price to move up to get him was too much, but whether he as worthy of #4 overall, I've got no problem with it.

Past performance is not indicative of future results, etc… but let's face it, the guy was projected to go top5. I know you're probably thinking mock drafts are useless, but generally speaking, at least for the top 5 picks, they're always pretty damn accurate.. and Watkins was projected Top 5.

Now let's look at history... Here's some of the top WRs (top5) Blackmon, AJ Green, Julio Jones (#6), Megatron, Braylon Edwards, Fitz, Charles Rogers, Andre Johnson... There's been some busts, namely Braylon Edwards & Charles Rogers (character issues aside, Blackmon was tearing up the league when he played), and obviously you can always grab some great talent outside (i.e., Dez Bryant who fell out of the Top10), but generally, top WRs that are expected to be the cream of the crop coming out of college have for the most part, panned out.

Here's hoping Sammy continues the trend.

[better days]

Re: Good read on Watkins

Watkins didn't broker the trade, so I hold nothing against him. He's a great kid and a super talent. People misdirect their anger towards him, rather than Whaley or whoever pushed for the trade. Now that the current draft is coming up and the 1st rounder is missing, many revisit their anger.

I like Watkins, Woods and Hogan as our starters. They need a QB to get them the ball, so the team isn't overly dependent on the running game. This QB class in the draft looks bad beyond the top 2, so a Vet must be found.

Well, there is no QB in this draft that the Bills could have gotten at #19 that is any better than EJ Manuel.

It was reported that if the Bills did not make the trade for Watkins, they would have drafted Eric Ebron last year.

So, the question is what would you rather have...Sammy Watkins or Eric Ebron & the #19 pick this year?

It is still early, but I think Sammy will prove to be the better of those choices.