The Value Of Robert Woods At #2
With rookie minicamp coming to a close, the next stop on the road to the 2016 season will be training camp. For the first time in recent memory, the Buffalo Bills will enter the season with stability at the quarterback position and known commodities on offense. At this point, it is all but certain that Tyrod Taylor is “the guy.” Coming off of a Pro Bowl season, Tyrod looks to continue his success and solidify his status as the franchise quarterback for the Bills. Part of Tyrod’s success will depend on the production of the wide receiver corps.
Coming off of a Pro Bowl season, Tyrod looks to continue his success and solidify his status as the franchise quarterback for the Bills. Part of Tyrod’s success will depend on the production of the wide receiver corps. Sammy Watkins has developed into the star receiver that he was expected to be and there are absolutely no questions surrounding him. However, there is a precipitous drop-off to the #2 spot.
The Bills second wide receiver, Robert Woods, is coming off of a season in which he totaled 552 yards and 3 touchdowns on 47 receptions. 2015 was actually his worst year in the league since entering in 2013. As a rookie, he played 14 games and recorded 587 yards and 3 touchdowns on 40 receptions. As a sophomore, he thrived with Kyle Orton at quarterback. In his 2014 season, he totaled 699 yards and 5 touchdowns on 65 receptions. He also had a career-high in targets (104).
Through three seasons, Woods has had a slightly above average career. His value, however, has been very strong (4 years/$4,866,769). He is playing on the final year of his rookie contract and pending a similar statistical season, he should expect a big pay day. And if it was up to me, that pay day would not involve the Bills.
I personally believe that overpaying for wide receivers can be the biggest mistake in sports. Unless they are absolute game changers, it is simply not worth it. The only player on the field that can even sway point spreads is the quarterback. Throwing money to average wide receivers is futile because there are a handful of players who could achieve stats similar to Woods if they saw the same number of snaps. I understand opening the wallet to players like AJ Green or Dez Bryant. In fact, I will be a huge advocate for Sammy Watkins to get a similar contract. But players of Woods’ caliber are not worth it, especially with the tight salary cap in today’s NFL.
Take Marvin Jones, who just signed a 5 year, $40,000,000 contract with the Detroit Lions. Jones and Woods have had very similar NFL careers in terms of numbers. Woods has 1,838 yards and 11 touchdowns while Jones has 1729 yards and 15 touchdowns. Are the Lions a better football team because of this signing? Maybe. But are they going to win more games because of him? Probably not.
Related Story: Can Kolby Listenbee Be Our Missing Receiver?
The bottom line is that Robert Woods is a talented football player whose value to the team is not worth the money that he will most likely get. If another team wants to pay Woods upwards of $5 million a year, that’s fine with me. I just don’t want the Bills to get caught in that trap because I’m confident that players like Kolby Listenbee or Greg Salas can be just as productive.
In fact, I am a proponent of a “number two wide receiver by committee.” With the talent of Sammy Watkins, Charles Clay, and the Bills’ dominant run game, there is no reason to overpay for a number two wide receiver. It’s simply just not a strong need on the roster.