NFL PLAYER NEWS

Reports: WR Sammy Watkins to sign with Ravens

Field Level Media

March 27, 2021 at 1:27 am.

Three days after his free agent visit, wide receiver Sammy Watkins agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, according to multiple reports Friday.

The contract reportedly will pay Watkins $6 million for the 2021 season, with $5 million guaranteed.

The Ravens had not been shy about their free agency pursuits and hunt for a big-name wide receiver this offseason. The team already struck out after heavily pursuing wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, who re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and T.Y. Hilton, who re-upped with the Indianapolis Colts.

Watkins will reunite with Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who held the same title with the Buffalo Bills when Watkins recorded his only 1,000-yard campaign in 2015 with 1,047 receiving yards and registered a career-high nine scoring catches.

Baltimore marks Watkins’ fourth team as he enters his eighth NFL season.

The 27-year-old has played with his share of prolific passers, as Ravens starter Lamar Jackson, who made a Pro Bowl in 2019, has a chance to become Watkins’ fourth QB teammate to each the Pro Bowl. Watkins enjoyed a career year with the Bills’ Tyrod Taylor in 2015, teamed with Pro Bowler Jared Goff with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and played with three-time Pro Bowler Patrick Mahomes as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs the past thee seasons.

Watkins has struggled to stay healthy since being selected by the Bills with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft after a highly decorated college career at Clemson. He has played in more than 10 games in just four of his seven seasons.

Watkins recorded 37 receptions for a career-low 421 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games (nine starts) with the Chiefs last season. Winner of a Super Bowl ring after Kansas City’s title-winning 2019 season, he has 321 catches for 4,665 yards with 33 scores in 86 career games (82 starts) with the Bills (2014-16), Rams (2017) and Chiefs (2018-20).