Will Sammy’s Wish Come True?
March 8th, 2014
The young man considered the ultimate can’t-miss prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft has a dream destination, so he told Sirius XM NFL Radio yesterday.
Joe’s got a hint for you. The 20-year-old speedster hails from the Ft. Myers area.
You can listen to an audio cut of Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins on Movin’ The Chains below. Yes, he considers the Bucs his hometown team.
Joe can picture young Sammy in high school back in 2010. The kid must have been in fantasy land watching Josh Freeman, Mike Williams , DJ Toes On The Line (aka MC Vaseline) and LeGarrette Blount on TV lighting up the scoreboard and dreaming about joining them one day.
Life sure does change quickly.
Joe would be proud to call Watkins a Buccaneer, but does anyone think he’s going to last to No. 7? A can’t-miss receiver, a guy you can have cheap for five seasons on a rookie contract lasting all the way until No. 7? No way. It’s not going to happen in the pass-happy NFL.
Joe just hopes Watkins is not wearing Falcons colors. Yeah, everyone’s blubbering about how Atlanta is sure to draft a left tackle, but Joe thinks the braintrust there is far too smart to pass on Watkins, not with Roddy White near the end of the line.
March 8th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
I agree…no way Watkins lasts until #7. We’ll have to trade up a couple spots if we really want him. Otherwise it’s likely to be Mack or a tackle (no, not Manziel).
March 8th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
He’s the guy that I want but no way he lasts that long. Too bad
March 8th, 2014 at 12:35 pm
We need speedy playmaker’s but I’m hoping for a big ugly offensive linemen. Or a big ugly defensive linemen. We need to get tougher in the trenches.
March 8th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
How about this guys. If we can pick up Watkins or Evans it would be a dream especially with mcCown throwing to him this year. Beef up the d line with jared Allen and Johnson. Then next year pick up famous Jameis from fsu. He has the size of bridgewater, with the speed of manziel, but with a better arm than both of them. Now he would be a franchise quarterback I would be proud to call my qb for tampa bay for years to come.
March 8th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
No way Falcons take him. If they do, the I woudn’t be too upset because it means that they once again have yet to correct the huge holes on their team. That being said, I’d prefer to go with a Johnny/Brandin Cooks combo. He’s a poor man’s Sammy. There’s gonna be better WR value at our 2nd pick anyways…but yeah, i’d love me some Sammy!
March 8th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
I wish, if we land Sammy that would make Vick a very viable option at QB while we wait on Marriota.
March 8th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Why do so many mocks show Mack as the Bucs pick? I get he may fit Lovie’s style of defense, but this team needs help on the offensive side of the ball from the draft. My preference would be to add pieces to the defense through free agency go get 2 of 3 needed offensive playmakers at the QB, WR and TE positions with the first two picks of this draft, and since the picks will likely be later in the round next year, get the 3rd playmaker next year along with some OL help. Contend this coming year, win it all the next.
March 8th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
love to have Watkins, then a qb. as tedford says, “speed in space”.
qb is a bigger need than o-line or d-line.
March 8th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Pass. We need someone who will be a threat past 5 yards downfield. The only thing this guy can do is catch quick slants and screen passes. Our offense needs to get the ball downfield.
March 8th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Would be awesome, just can’t see it happening unfortunately. This is a deep draft, hope we somehow can get a 3rd rounder back as well.
March 8th, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Hey if the Bucs really want a player they’ll move up. Licht and Thurston Howell, III’s better half may have they’re first Lovers spat with the 7th pick.
March 8th, 2014 at 1:25 pm
Sammy >>>>> Johnny
March 8th, 2014 at 1:38 pm
If Vick is a member on this this team……. I’m trading out! As a pit owner, I really hate Vick! He’s truly scum and I couldn’t watch that
March 8th, 2014 at 1:38 pm
I’m hearing Joseph got released.
March 8th, 2014 at 1:50 pm
No way he makes it past St. Louis and if he does no way Atl doesn’t take him and waves good bye to Roddy White, imagine having two Julio Jones, that’s what Atl is thinking…
March 8th, 2014 at 1:51 pm
Win Now = BUCS don’t draft QB at the #7 pick
March 8th, 2014 at 1:54 pm
I see that now, couch
March 8th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
I think it’d be more efficient to trade back and get Mike Evans. Maybe get that 3rd rounder back and still get a good reciever in the first.
March 8th, 2014 at 2:37 pm
GenocideD Says:
March 8th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Pass. We need someone who will be a threat past 5 yards downfield. The only thing this guy can do is catch quick slants and screen passes. Our offense needs to get the ball downfield.
Lol…that proves you haven’t seen any Clemson games.
March 8th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
@Lovethepewter:
I guess ESPN doesn’t watch Clemson games either…
http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/tag/_/name/sammy-watkins
The average pass thrown to Watkins this past season traveled just 4.7 yards downfield. As his career has gone forward, Watkins has been targeted closer and closer to the line of scrimmage.
In 2013, Clemson did whatever they could to get him the ball, targeting him behind the line of scrimmage 65 times last season, 14 more than any other AQ player.
March 8th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
GenocideD Says:
March 8th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
@Lovethepewter:
I guess ESPN doesn’t watch Clemson games either…
http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/tag/_/name/sammy-watkins
The average pass thrown to Watkins this past season traveled just 4.7 yards downfield. As his career has gone forward, Watkins has been targeted closer and closer to the line of scrimmage.
In 2013, Clemson did whatever they could to get him the ball, targeting him behind the line of scrimmage 65 times last season, 14 more than any other AQ player.
HAHAHA. You’re sorely missing the point of that article you linked Those stats reference his ability to score on any play and are posted as a strenth, not a weakess. Why would you throw a 50 yard bomb to him and risk a pick or low percentage pass when you can give him the ball on a 5 yard slant and still score?
1. Shame on you for citing ESPN and claiming to be a Buc fan.
2. Yes, ESPN watches Sammy. Which is why everybody on the planet projects him to be a top 5 pick, maybe even 2 or 1 overall. Why would someone who can’t get downfield be projected that high the DEEPEST WR draft in more than a decade? Stop talking… (drops mic, walks off stage)
March 8th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
You can pick 8 guys and say, “There’s no way he makes it to #7.” There is a very good chance he’ll be there. Better than 5 others anyways.
March 8th, 2014 at 5:14 pm
He may not make it to 7 but the Falcons won’t take him. Their O line and D line are in worse shape than ours.
March 8th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
That would be the steal of the draft if he lasted til the 7th pick. Mack or Matthews seem more likely. Can’t miss with either one of those guys as well.
March 8th, 2014 at 10:51 pm
Folks the most valuable player on any team is the QB and there is no long term Franchise QB in free agency so you have to draft them when you have the chance and that is NOW. I guarantee you Lovie knows that by his past failure to get one. He knows he can’t win a Super Bowl without one. No question that Watkins is a great slot receiver but we can get an outstanding slot receiver in the draft originally from Mississippi, but grew up in Florida, who returns kicks too. I do believe Watkins will be gone anyway. For all you fans hoping for Winston next year–he has already promised FSU he is staying for two more years, so you can forget him. But we should be able to have a shot at Bortles or Carr and we would be foolish to pass over them if either is there at 7. Our RT will make a better LT than any Rookie in the draft this year.
March 8th, 2014 at 11:19 pm
I agree get the O-Line and Defense squared away during free agency and get the skill positions from the Draft.
My first picks would be Sammy in the 1st and ASJ in the 2nd. Or i would trade down (if possible) Grab Eric Ebron in the 1st and Kelvin Benjamin/ WR from Oregon in the 2nd
March 9th, 2014 at 3:29 am
I don’t get fans saying no to a qb if bridge water is there at 7 how can anyone on this site not be all in on bwater
March 10th, 2014 at 11:29 am
If QB falls to us at 7 we have to take him. Otherwise I would take Mack at 7. JMO.