5 free agent wide receivers the Chargers could target even with Mike Williams
By Faustino Felix
4. Sammy Watkins
Betting on young receivers with higher cap hits and longer contracts might be risky, and Telesco isn't a General Manager known for taking big risks. What would be more in line with what he has done in recent years is to sign a cheaper veteran with a track record, whether it worked or not. (Linval Joseph, Chris Harris Jr.)
Sammy Watkins fits the bill as a proven veteran, who has speed and something else that is also lacking in this Chargers team: big-game experience. While being a depth piece at this stage of his career, he still had five catches for 98 yards in Super Bowl LIV, including a crucial 38-yard catch on the game-winning drive.
With a projected contract of 2 years, $6 million avg/year per PFF, Watkins will come cheaper than the options listed above, but it's easy to forget that the former first-round pick is a year younger than Keenan Allen. While he has had consistent injury trouble in his career, he's not a broken-down veteran collecting paychecks on the wrong side of 30.
Watkins will be someone Herbert can rely on in big plays and big moments, and his presence on the field will free up Aleen and Williams to work without being double covered, as defenses will know Herbert will make them pay should they forget about Watkins. He can be a much more serious threat than Guyton has been, and this move could round out the receiving room without spending big.