Sammy Watkins Gives Buffalo Bills A Foundation At Wide Reciever

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“Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills”, the famous phrase by ESPN icon Chirs Berman has been one of the very few things cool about the Bills over the last 15 years. Moving home games from Buffalo to Toronto is “No Bueno” and neither was the Bills passing game last season. Ranked 28th in passing yards (193.9 yards per game) the Bills passing game was non-existent. Of course I take that with a grain of salt due to the fact that E.J Manuel was missed 6 games last year so guys like Thad Lewis and the incomparable Jeff Tuel had to fill in for him. With the 4th pick in this years NFL draft the Bills snagged Clemson standout wide receiver Sammy Watkins, for an offense that has very solid weapons in the run game this was exactly what the doctor ordered for New York’s only NFL team.

The Bills haven’t reached the postseason since 1999 and have exercised a level of ineptitude which has placed them near the bottom of the AFC East for a very long time. The Patriots have won 3 super bowls, the Jets have reached and AFC championship and the Dolphins have made a few cameos in the playoffs since Buffalo last saw the post season. Its been brutal for one of the leagues most passionate and tormented fan base’s over the last 14 years but things are on the up and up for the Bills. When you’re looking to build a complete offense you need playmakers everywhere and they finally have one on the outside with elite speed and number one receiver potential in Sammy Watkins.

Watkins comes out of Clemson with game-breaking traits all over him. The now former Clemson Tiger owns 23 school records including (3,391 yards), receptions (240) and touchdowns (tied with 27) so producing at a high level is the norm for Mr.Watkins. The question is now can he help contribute to turning around one of the NFL’s perennial losers of the last decade? With him coming to town you have to think their passing game will improve. They made some key additions this off-season that upgraded the overall big play ability of the offense in adding former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Williams and trading for former Philadelphia Eagles running back Bryce Brown. They already have C.J Spiller and Fred Jackson who were the focal points in the NFL’s 4th rated rushing attack so with addition of Watkins and Williams on the outside things are bound to open up for E.J Manuel.

No matter how you look at it the Bills have 3-4 guys on that offense who can break 1,000 yards or more at their respective positions in C.J Spiller, Fred Jackson, Sammy Watkins and Mike Williams. I won’t predict who is going to hit that mark but all 4 of them have a great chance, especially if E.J Manuel is healthy at quarterback. For the first time in a very long time the Bills have a true #1 receiver who actually has a long term future with the team, how he develops and what he becomes is another thing but you got to love what he brings to the table. For the first time in seemingly forever the Bills have a solid foundation at all of their skill positions which is quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Obviously nothing is perfect and if things go as planned then maybe the Bills won’t have to circle the wagons and fans can circle Stubhub for some playoff tickets at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the near future.