Just because nobody saw it coming doesn’t mean it’s a bad move.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has been making a pretty fine living out of zigging when others have been zagging.
And he did it again by signing Sammy Watkins to a low risk one-year, $4 million deal. Is the eight-year wideout that has averaged 632 yards and 4.25 touchdowns a season a replacement for Davante Adams? No way. Adams was and is a unicorn, the upper crust of NFL wideouts. But I would rather pay Watkins $4 million a year than give Marquez Valdes-Scantling three years and $30 million.
One of the most desirable qualities by this front office has been versatility and that’s exactly what Watkins brings by being able to play outside and in the slot. The 28-year-old can do a lot of things very well, but most importantly, he can get behind the defense and make the offense more dynamic.
Now, everything is not rosy. There is still a lot of pressure on Gutekunst to hit at least one home run with four picks in the top 60. There’s always the chance that Gutekunst still has a curveball left in his arsenal by signing Will Fuller or Cole Beasley.
But even if Gutekunst does make another free agent wideout addition, the Packers cannot ignore wide receiver in the draft again. Green Bay passed on Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman in 2020 — the Packers cannot afford to do that again, especially with another deep wideout draft pool. This may not have the most elite talent, but it is about as deep as 2014, which, ironically enough, is the same year Watkins was taken with the fourth overall pick.
Watkins was a nice move because it gives the Packers a vertical element and he’s a veteran receiver that is an excellent leader. That’s a beautiful signing for a team that’s on the doorstep of drafting a green playmaker and putting a ton of pressure on him right from the get go.
S0 I didn’t think Watkins was coming to Green Bay and neither did you. Who cares? And no, this isn’t Devin Funchess Part 2. He didn’t play a regular season snap for the Packers thanks to taking a COVID year in 2020 and reaching an injury settlement on Aug. 27 and getting released before the 2021 season. We don’t even know if Funchess would’ve made the roster.
Watkins is going to contribute because he’s a smart player that will mesh with Aaron Rodgers. Remember, Rodgers absolutely loves precision and that’s exactly what the Packers got with Watkins.
You can be happy about this move, but just remember, the Packers aren’t done with the wide receiver room yet.
Read More: Still More Work To Do