Immediately after the news broke that Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will be suspended for six weeks, RapSheet reported that Buffalo Bills have traded wide receiver Sammy Watkins has been traded to the Los Angeles Rams along with a sixth round pick for E.J. Gaines and a second rounder.
The Los Angeles Rams Have Traded for Sammy Watkins
The Bills just traded WR Sammy Watkins. WOW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 11, 2017
In his three years as a member of the Buffalo Bills, Watkins caught 153 passes for 2,459 and 17 touchdowns. In flashes, he looked explosive, but he just couldn’t stay healthy. He missed three games in 2015 and half the season last year. The Buffalo Bills actually traded with the Cleveland Browns to get the fourth overall pick to take Watkins back in 2014, and three years later, he’s on another team.
At the same time this news broke, the Bills also announced that they were trading corner Ronald Darby for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a third round pick. So essentially, the Bills traded Watkins for Matthews, and Darby for Gaines, while adding a second and a third round pick.
The reality is that the Bills probably didn’t want to pay Watkins number one receiver money next year, mostly because he just can’t stay healthy. At least in this situation, the Bills get something back for Watkins, and their new general manager, Brandon Beane, will have more picks next year’s draft as they attempt to rebuild.
For the Rams
Meanwhile, Jared Goff finally gets a true number one receiver. Now he’s got Watkins, Tavon Austin, Robert Woods, and rookie Cooper Kupp. Along with improvements on the offensive line and talented running back Todd Gurley, the Los Angeles Rams are starting to form a bit of an offense.
