Roundtable Reactions: Ravens sign former Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins

It’s official. The Baltimore Ravens have signed a free agent wide receiver. After all the madness surrounding this issue, the Baltimore Beatdown staff sat down and shared their opinion on the news regarding Sammy Watkins becoming a Raven.

Good move. Great value. Watkins is a solid receiver to pair with the Ravens’ offense. He’s a bigger receiver capable of making the chain-moving plays and is a reliable target. No, this isn’t the lauded mega-deal the masses clamored for to begin the new league year, but it’s still an addition that can pay dividends. This also won’t be a deter Eric DeCosta from making a move in the 2021 NFL Draft, whether it’s to draft a receiver with a high pick or even trade up for one. This is likely the first of a couple moves, not the only one. — Kyle P. Barber

The need for a talent infusion at the wide receiver position has been evident since the playoff loss to the Titans. Fortunately, the Ravens patience was rewarded this offseason when Watkins joined Tyus Bowser and Kevin Zeitler as a value signing.

When healthy, Sammy is more than capable of serving as a viable and necessary tertiary receiving threat behind Mark Andrews and Hollywood Brown. While the Watkins acquisition should not deter Eric DeCosta from bolstering the receiving corps further, his presence is a major step in the right direction towards using a limited BPA draft strategy and constructing a championship caliber roster. — Vasilis Lericos

While Watkins may not be much of a needle-mover for a team looking to compete for a Super Bowl, he is still an upgrade over what the Ravens had opposite of Marquise Brown at wide receiver. Eric DeCosta did not overpay either. Hopefully Watkins is able to make it through the season healthy and provide Lamar Jackson another reliable target in the passing game. This move should not prevent Baltimore from prioritizing wide receiver early in the draft next month, however. At least that is what I hope. — Dustin Cox

It isn’t the splash signing that fans and media pundits wanted to see but it is at least something at a position that was a glaring weakness following another disappointing end to the Ravens postseason. They finally didn’t get turned down by veteran wideout who opted to take less money to return to their former team or sign elsewhere because they preferred to play in more of a pass oriented offense. I am glad that General Manager Eric DeCosta was able to get Watkins below market value and didn’t overpay for an injury prone player at a premium position. As happy as I am to see this signing happen, I really hope that it doesn’t dissuade the team from spending a early pick on the position to further bolster and improve the weapons at Lamar Jackson’s disposal in 2021 and beyond. — Joshua Reed

Watkins is a step in the right direction for Baltimore. Bringing in a high profile receiver who has big game experience is a solid move. Watkins is more of a boundary threat than Willie Snead was, which rounds out the receiver room more than the new Raider. The Ravens still need to add another playmaking pass catcher to maximize their offensive attack, but a step in the right direction that has minimal cost. - Spencer Schultz

Sammy Watkins certainty has the potential to be an upgrade across from Marquise Brown. His best seasons were with the Bills in 2014 and 2015, but he had some impressive moments with the Chiefs. In 2019, he had 14 receptions for 288 yards and a touchdown in three playoff games. At $5 million, he is a solid value signing. Nevertheless, the Ravens should still target a wide receiver in the draft. Watkins may be the answer, but the front office should not solely rely on him. His health remains a concern, as he has not played a full 16-game season since his rookie year in 2014. - Jakob Ashlin