13 August, 2017
Three teams were involved in these trades so the fantasy ripple effect is massive. below I'll go team-by-team to assess the impact. It possibly was done in an effort to take the players' minds off the trade, which sent Matthews and a third-round pick in the 2018 draft to the Bills in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby.
But that Hollins ramble represented the other part of the equation - the part that made de facto general manager Howie Roseman comfortable enough to trade away the sixth player in National Football League history to catch at least 65 passes for at least 800 yards in each of his first three National Football League seasons, since the Eagles drafted him in the second round from Vanderbilt in 2014. We understand the business side of this game.
Watkins is a 24-year-old former fourth-overall pick who brings an element of speed, athletic ability and production the Rams haven't had in years. It's a group. I would love to have a Gonzaga basketball team, where everybody complements each other. "I had calls from multiple teams about Sammy back to June shortly after I took over the job". "He has a brother for life in me, and he knows that". He's caught 225 passes for 2,673 yards and 19 touchdowns, but his inconsistency and his lack of focus was an issue in Philadelphia. He's a solid wide receiver.
Roseman said he had a "knot in his stomach" before talking to Matthews on Friday morning and certainly thought about the possible locker room ramifications a deal like this one might have.
"It's tough to lose a guy like Sammy", Taylor said. "That was really the genesis of why we made this trade". You now have two picks in the first three rounds in the 2018 draft, so you can have options going into the next season. The Bills also have just 14 players whom they've drafted, not including this year's six-player class.
"I was a little surprised at the trade because everything happened so fast", Darby said Saturday. At the end of the day, the organization's success comes first.
The Rams are betting on two things: that Watkins will stay healthy and play like the guy he was at Clemson, and that they can afford to keep him around long-term.
"[There's] obviously a difference", McCoy said. "He's going to be a great asset to our defense". He now has a talented pass catcher to throw to in Watkins who can pull it down and separate easily from defensive backs when he is at 100%. The Eagles upgraded the receiver position enough this offseason by signing Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery, as well as drafting promising rookie Mack Hollins, to feel comfortable making this move. "My only worry now is with myself".
A year ago, Matthews was the only real receiver the Eagles had. At the same time, McDermott understands the angst fans are feeling as they watch two key players leave the team.
