Arrowheadlines: Analysts unanimously call Chiefs “winners” for Sammy Watkins deal

The latest

PFF Deal Grader: WR Sammy Watkins signs with the Kansas City Chiefs | Pro Football Focus
Grade: B
Contract details: 3-year, $48-million

What it means for Watkins:

After three years with mediocre quarterback play in Buffalo, WR Sammy Watkins was able to be a part of the ascension of Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. When Goff targeted Watkins, his passer rating was a whopping 122.0, fifth in the league among wide receivers. That said, passer rating on targets is just one place to look, and is pretty dependent on variable things like touchdowns and interceptions. On a per-route run basis, Watkins was just 68th of 93 in efficiency, after being 22nd and fifth in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Fantasy football 2018: Can Sammy Watkins make a fantasy impact in Kansas City? | SB Nation
Fantasy impact: This trade makes a lot of sense on paper. Watkins could be the final missing piece in Kansas City to make their offense unstoppable. He is fast, big, and requires a lot of attention from defenses. However, those upsides may not transfer over to fantasy right away. Watkins is the fourth wheel in a loaded arsenal. Hill, Kelce, and Hunt are going to get the lion’s share of touches again next season. The 24-year-old could be looking at another slow start with another new team. Owners should not jump on Watkins too early this draft. He has great potential but he should linger on most fantasy boards until the seventh or eighth round.

Winners and losers from a wild few days of moves | CBS Sports
Winners (Sammy Watkins)

Andy Reid has not been great at wideout contracts with Kansas City: Dwayne Bowe and Jeremy Maclin did not pan out for the Chiefs. There is a lot of risk in Watkins' contract, but he still has a ton of upside.

Winners and losers from start of NFL free agency | The Florida Times-Union
(Winners)
Taken eight picks after Trubisky, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes also benefited from his team’s aggressiveness. The Chiefs signed receiver Sammy Watkins to add to an already dynamic offense that features receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce. Mahomes is considered to have a huge arm, which should allow for plenty of downfield shots to Watkins and Hill.

Grades for Wednesday's Signings & Landing Spot Predictions | Bleacher Report
CB Terrance Mitchell agrees to sign with the Browns: $12 million over three years, per Schefter, for a 25-year-old coming off a four-pick season as an occasional starter with the Chiefs? That's much better. Grade: A

Top 5 NFL teams that may want former Packers receiver Jordy Nelson
5. Kansas City Chiefs

Are they the most natural fit? No. Does Nelson's family live two hours west of Arrowhead and rabidly root for the Chiefs? Absolutely.

Sure, the Chiefs already splurged at the position on Sammy Watkins. But a player like Nelson to take pressure off the former No. 4 overall pick, never mind mentor immature Travis Kelce and volatile Tyreek Hill, could be invaluable. Kansas City would have to get creative with its cap, and its easy to say bigger needs exist on 'D,' but this is an interesting scenario.

Until Redskins figure out Josh Doctson, it doesn’t matter what receivers they sign | The Washington Post
(Paul) Richardson averaged 16 yards per catch last season and posted career highs with 703 yard and six touchdowns. That he caught just 44 of 80 targets is a red flag. In the best case, the speedster can help move the offense in big chunks and develop a relationship with (Alex) Smith that mimics how the Chiefs used Tyreek Hill last year.

Georgia Tech Football to Hold Pro Day on Friday | RamblinWreck.com
Last year, place kicker Harrison Butker was selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft and, despite not being activated by the Kansas City Chiefs until the fourth game of the season, went on to set the franchise records for consecutive field goals made (23) and single-season field goals (38). Butker was a two-time AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in October.

Around the league

Kirk Cousins's Vikings deal is a sign NFL players won't be exploited anymore | The Guardian
There has always lingered a question about how good (Kirk Cousins) really is, suggestions that the fabulous passing yards piled up in Washington were a mirage and that he lacks that special instinct buried inside a Tom Brady or Drew Brees to make their teams contenders. Washington reportedly criticized Cousins to potential free agent suitors. But given the dysfunction of that organization, the fact he has started only one playoff game might be more a function of his old franchise than his failings as a player.

Do the Rams now have the best secondary in the NFL? | ESPN
Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Lamarcus Joyner and John Johnson give the Rams a formidable defensive backfield.

NFL rumors: Latest news, buzz ahead of free agency, draft | Sports Illustrated
Tuesday saw the quarterback dominos fall in a big way. Kirk Cousins is headed to Minnesota, Case Keenum to Denver and Sam Bradford to Arizona. The free-agent market's best running back, Dion Lewis, is also off the board, as he'll sign a four-year deal with the Titans.

NFL trade rumors: Trevor Siemian headed to Vikings | Sporting News
Minnesota is finalizing a trade with the Broncos to acquire Trevor Siemian, NFL Media reported Wednesday. The 26-year-old would slot in as Cousins' backup once the former Redskins quarterback is officially in the fold.

Bills agree to terms with AJ McCarron on 2-year deal | NFL.com
After spending four seasons in Cincinnati, McCarron won his grievance to become a free agent in February and was expected to have a lot of interest from QB-needy teams like Minnesota, Cleveland, Denver and the New York Jets. But one by one over the past week, those clubs found starters for 2018 (Kirk Cousins, Tyrod Taylor, Case Keenum, Josh McCown, respectively), leaving McCarron as the odd QB out.

Saints signing backup quarterback Tom Savage | NFL.com
Savage spent his first four years with the Texans, starting nine games and quickly losing the job to rookie Deshaun Watson in 2017. He's a slow-moving quarterback with solid arm strength and a concussion history.

Malcolm Butler: I never got a reason for SB LII benching | NFL.com
"I never got a reason," Butler told the Boston Herald. "I feel like this was the reason: I got kind of sick. I went to the hospital. They probably thought I was kind of late on the game plan; I wasn't as locked in as I should be and could have been a matchup deal. It could have been anything. But Bill Belichick has been doing this for a very long time."

At Arrowhead Pride

What we learned from KC Chiefs GM Brett Veach on Wednesday night
The Arizona Cardinals made a bit of a surprise move Wednesday when they released cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu will likely get paid handsomely for his services, but Veach is interested.

Chiefs’ Andy Reid, Brett Veach issue statements on Marcus Peters, Alex Smith trades
Andy Reid on the Marcus Peters trade: “I’d like to thank Marcus for his contributions to our team the past three seasons,” Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said. “We felt this was the right move for our team and also for Marcus at this time.”

Chiefs free agents 2018: Where we stand right now
Priorities for the Chiefs remain the defense. WR Sammy Watkins will do on offense. They need defensive line help and could use more help at corner and safety. GM Brett Veach should be paying attention to those positions.