LA Rams Trade A Smart Move? Breaking Down The Sammy Watkins Deal

The Los Angeles Rams front office has not been shy about taking chances. They not only hired Sean McVay, who at age 30 became the youngest head coach hire in NFL history, but general manager Les Snead has also rolled the dice with some major trades, sacrificing future draft picks for immediate results.

After their blockbuster deal for the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, the Rams on Friday pulled off another big trade, acquiring wide receiver Sammy Watkins and a sixth-round pick from the Buffalo Bills.

Many have questioned the wisdom of the Watkins trade because of the number of draft picks the Rams have surrendered over the past 16 months. After giving up the No. 15 pick, two second-round picks and a third-round pick in 2016, as well as a first and third-round pick in 2017, for quarterback Jared Goff, a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick in 2016 from the Tennessee Titans, the Rams sent the Bills a 2018 second-round pick along with cornerback E.J. Gaines.

Aside from losing picks, the trade also means the Rams will have some future salary cap issues. The front office now has to weigh the option of paying Watkins, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, as well as holdout defensive star Aaron Donald. Acquiring Watkins may also mean the Rams won't be able to put another franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson next year.

Watkins, who impressed scouts at the 2014 Combine by running a 4.34 in the 40-yard dash, is also coming off a foot injury and there may be doubts about his ability to play a full season. He played in just eight games in 2016 and only posted strong numbers in two games. There might be some concern that Watkins' best days are behind him, and whether Goff can even find him the ball after the offensive line failed to give quarterbacks time to throw in 2016.

But there is also plenty to like about the deal. The offense was abysmal in 2016, and the Rams may have had no choice but to further bolster a unit that finished last in yards per game (262.7) and points (14.0).

The consensus opinion around the Rams camp is that Watkins can still be a difference-maker on this revamped offense. Watkins finally gives Goff, who experienced growing pains in his rookie season, a deep-threat target to go along with Robert Woods and Tavon Austin after the departure of Kenny Britt and Brian Quick. The Rams' passing attack will now have even more depth, with Watkins joining rookies Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, as well as Pharoh Cooper, who showed promise in his first season. There are also high hopes for tight ends in McVay's offense, with second-round pick Gerald Everett highlighting a versatile group.

With his contract up at the end of the season, Watkins could be poised for a resurgence. In his rookie season, he caught 65 passes for 982 yards. In 2015, Watkins caught 60 passes in 13 games for 1,047 yards.

Despite the foot injury, Watkins showed glimpses of his elite form last season. He had a standout game against the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 24, catching 10 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown. On a 38-yard touchdown strike, Watkins was able to secure the ball despite strong coverage. Plays like that are encouraging for new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur and the rest of the coaching staff.

"With Sammy, I think clearly you're getting a special receiver," McVay said, via the team's official website. "Obviously, his career when he's been available, he's been outstanding in terms of being able to stretch the field vertically, but when the balls in his hands, good things happen. We feel like he's going to be a good addition to our offense."

Adding Watkins should also mean opposing defenses will have less interest in containing Todd Gurley. It was a lackluster second season for the star running back, who rarely found openings when defenses packed the line.

Aside from losing a second-round pick, the defense can probably withstand the loss of Gaines. The 25-year-old started in 10 games and his absence will hurt cornerback depth, but with a unit that includes Johnson, Kayvon Webster, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Mike Jordan, and Troy Hill, Gaines may have seen limited time in 2017.