Was the Los Angeles Rams’ trade for Sammy Watkins worth it?

Just more than seven months ago, the Los Angeles Rams traded CB E.J. Gaines and a 2018 NFL Draft second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for WR Sammy Watkins and their sixth-round pick. Today, we learned that Watkins will sign a three-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs when free agency opens tomorrow.

It begs the obvious question...

Was it worth it?

On one hand, you’ve got the sheer weight of the offensive success last year. Under first-year Head Coach Sean McVay, the Rams had one of the most productive offenses in the NFL. Does that happen without Watkins? Does RB Todd Gurley turn in a near-MVP season without him? All hypotheticals, but the reality was that the Rams’ 2017 offense was legit and Sammy Watkins was a key part of it.

On the other hand, you’ve got the reasons why the Rams were unwilling to pay Watkins along the lines of the three-year, $48m deal with $30m guaranteed that he got from the Chiefs. The production was underwhelming for a WR1 with just 39 receptions from 70 targets for 593 yards and eight touchdowns. And the personnel in the passing game offers quality well beyond Watkins, so the Rams certainly weren’t desperate for his talents.

But now as the Rams head toward the draft, the #56 overall pick sits in Buffalo’s lap. With roster needs on both sides of the ball, it’s fair to ask if the Rams would have been better off in 2017 without Watkins and keeping that pick. Yes, the Rams stand to earn a compensatory pick in the 2019 NFL Draft as things stand, but they might cancel that out with a signing of their own.

What say you, Rams fans? Was it worth it in the end?

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