2015 Buffalo Bills Player Profile: Sammy Watkins
By Tyler Olson
Oct 19, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) runs after a catch against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
2015 will be a year for Sammy Watkins to help lead the Buffalo Bills to a playoff birth for the first time in 15 years. It’ll also be a year for him to prove he’s the supremacy of the 2014 draft class of wide receivers.
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Watkins, former collegiate standout for the Clemson Tigers, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills fourth overall in the 2014 NFL draft. Buffalo liked him so much that they moved up to fourth from their ninth-overall pick and also shipped out this years’ first-round pick (19th overall) to the Cleveland Browns in which they used to select center Cameron Erving from Florida State.
While with the Tigers, Watkins received many accolades for his work on the field. In 2011 as a Freshman he was not only one of the best receivers in the ACC (ranked first in touchdowns with 12) but he was one of the best in the country (ranked 7th in touchdowns). His Sophomore season was successful as well but he didn’t hit his stride again until Junior year in 2013 when he ranked first and second in the ACC in receiving yards and touchdowns, respectively.
His collegiate success led to him being a hot commodity once draft day rolled around. Bills general manager Doug Whaley loved him which is obviously why the team gave up what they did to acquire his services but then head coach Doug Marrone wasn’t as fond of the move.
"“There are different accounts of exactly how unhappy Marrone was, with some recalling that he stormed out of the draft room and others simply saying he walked out of the draft room.”"
As you now know, that situation on draft day certainly wasn’t one we saw in the movie Draft Day. Whaley didn’t work out some magic deal to recover his first-round pick, and Marrone is now the offensive line coach and assistant head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars after opting out of his contract.
Dec 14, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) makes a catch as Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) defends during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
All-in-all, the situation ultimately worked out better for the Buffalo organization. Marrone is out, player-friendly and experienced head coach Rex Ryan is in. And, of course, Watkins is still in town and ready to help improve Buffalo’s 26th-ranked offense from 2014.
Watkins had a successful rookie campaign this past year. He finished the season with 65 catches, 982 yards (15.1 YPC) and six touchdowns. While he was the top receiver drafted in the 2014 class, he didn’t have the best season statistically.
The New York Giants hit it big with Odell Beckham Jr. In just 12 games played, Beckham Jr. tallied 91 catches for 1,305 yards (14.3 YPC) and 12 touchdowns. It was unreal and almost unfair what he did to defenses as a rookie. Kelvin Benjamin also had a better year statistically, catching 73 yards for 1,008 yards (13.8 YPC) and nine touchdowns.
For the Buffalo offense — that’s added playmakers such as LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin and Charles Clay to their arsenal this offseason — to improve this season, they’ll need a big year and a complete bypass of the Sophomore slump from Watkins.