Getty Images

Expectations for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins were mighty high in his rookie season, in no small part because the Bills surrendered their 2015 first-round draft pick for a chance to snag the Clemson product in the opening round of last year's draft.

Then-Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone was reportedly irked by the move to land Watkins, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, which could have only served to pile more pressure on Sammy's shoulders.

Watkins caught 65 passes for 982 yards and six touchdowns in his inaugural NFL campaign. He ranked 24th in the league in receiving yards, good for fourth among rookies. But he was not Superman, and he was not Odell Beckham Jr., so some were left wanting more.

Nonetheless, Watkins is poised to elevate his game and join the ranks of football's top receivers in 2015.

His talent, of course, goes without saying. His hands—well, you may recall this grab he made in training camp last summer:

He also played through some injuries in 2014, most notably a lingering rib issue. His great games were really great—he had three performances of 100-plus receiving yards and at least one touchdown—but he also had a handful of underwhelming efforts. On nine occasions, he had 35 receiving yards or fewer. If Watkins can stay healthy next year, he should find more consistency from week to week.

There will probably be no more silly mistakes, like the one Watkins made against the New York Jets:

"I'll never let that happen again," Watkins told Morgan Frances of WINK Sports. "I think I made one of the worst mistakes, looking at the jumbotron and not really noticing where he’s at,” Watkins said referring to Jets’ Saalim Hakim, who tackled him. “He was really close and that was a bonehead mistake by me.”

Having a year of experience under his belt should help tremendously. As a rookie, Watkins—along with second-year receiver Robert Woods—was forced to find ways to make an impact despite an unstable quarterback situation and limited help from the rest of their wide receiving corps. Watkins proved he doesn't need an all-world QB to be successful.

"Watkins is the type of receiver that elevates his quarterback," writes Brian Galliford of BuffaloRumblings.com. "[I]n a league that is utterly dependent on quality quarterback play, that is a rarity."

But the biggest question is whether he can truly take off in this Bills offense. Sure, he elevates his quarterback, but you can only carry your QB so far. Watkins has expressed confidence in third-year quarterback EJ Manuel, recently telling Bleacher Report he believes Manuel could lead the team to a Super Bowl.

Either Manuel or Matt Cassel, for whom Buffalo traded on Wednesday, will be under center in 2015. Can either one bring out the best in Watkins?

Realistically, probably not. Still, nearly as important as who's throwing the ball will be who else, beyond Watkins and Woods, is catching it.

On the one hand, Watkins' value transcends the stat sheet when he forces double-teams, as new Bills head coach Rex Ryan explained in January (via Ross Jones/FoxSports.com):

I can tell you trying to defend Sammy Watkins, any time we [the Jets] tried to play man coverage on him, I got burned. He had a 90-yard catch. I think he had a 70-yard touchdown run. So I learned my lesson. The next week I doubled him every single snap. I mean every single snap. And so it's not about his production.

But opposing defenses had the luxury of double-teaming Watkins precisely because the Bills didn't have a threatening No. 3 receiver—not to mention a franchise quarterback or a respectable offensive line.

If Buffalo can acquire a solid tight end or another wide receiver to complement Watkins and Woods, it would go a long way toward allowing Watkins to achieve elite status. A new and improved O-line should also make a difference.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Even after taking on running back LeSean McCoy's cap hit for 2015, the Bills still have room to sign another pass-catcher via trade, free agency or the draft. That will be crucial in helping Watkins reach his full potential under first-year coordinator Greg Roman—and in proving that Buffalo's decision to sacrifice a first-rounder acquire Watkins was no mistake.

"Sammy is a one in every 10-year player that comes down the road," Ryan told FoxSports.com. "You mentioned we don't have a first-round pick. That's OK with me. We have Sammy Watkins."