Shocking
start to a Friday morning to hear star Buffalo Bills WR Sammy Watkins has been
dealt to the LA Rams!!! In a subsequent move the Buffalo Bills sent - up and
coming stud DB Ronald Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for WR
Jordan Matthews! VERY Interesting moves to say the least. By now everyone
should be aware of the trade details but let break this down further.
Buffalo Bills Trade to LA Rams:
WR Sammy Watkins
2018 Sixth Round Pick
LA Rams Trade to Buffalo Bills
DB E.J. Gaines
2018 Second Round Pick
On the
surface it appears the Rams have won this deal, as the Bills part ways with admission
to giving up on Sammy and the extra picks it took to get him. To all Bills fans;
let this digest a little. This is a smart football move even if Sammy reaches
his full potential and stays on the field. This was about asset building for
the ‘NOW’ as well as the ‘FUTURE’ for GM Brandon Bean. Losing Watkins is a
major blow to the pure talent level of this Bills roster, (I’m a big Watkins supporter,
btw). However it seems the Bills will try and recreate the dynamic play ability
with consistency and reliability. This decision teamed up with the unknown that
Sammy will stay on the field in 2017, along with his possible desire to test
the free agent market (2018), made this a no brainier for Bean. Bean’s evaluation
of; Risk vs Return vs Potential is very evident to me here.
As for the
Rams, this is an exciting move that will bring more fans to the games as they
rebuild. On paper the Rams are trying to recreate a formula done by many
successful teams of having a ‘BIG 3’ as your core build. QB Jared Goff, RB Todd
Gurley, WR Sammy Watkins – potentially impressive! Though Gurley has shown
flashes of being a star it was quite difficult running through 9 man boxes last
year. Enter Sammy Watkins to take the top off of defences opening lanes for
Gurley to gallop free. The biggest question mark aside from Watkins foot is
Jared Goff. As of today I’m discouraged with his development and really
question if he will become a star in the NFL. I reserve full judgement on Goff
at this point, as I believe that new Head Coach Sean McVay will instill a much
needed facelift to the Rams organization. Time will tell, but a nice infusion
of talent bringing Sammy to LA.
Buffalo Bills Trade to Philadelphia Eagles
DB Ronald Darby
Philadelphia Eagles to Buffalo Bills
WR Jordan Matthews
2018 Third Round Pick
As for the
Ronald Darby trade I think the Bills hit the mark dead on. Though Darby is a
great talent and has much room to grow, it’s difficult to reject the return. Receiving
Matthews along with another pick to add to the arsenal was again a no brainer
for Bean. Darby lacks the size that most DB’s in the NFL tend to have these
days but makes up for it with athletic ability. Darby’s play at times languished
as the 2016 season went on. His reliance on having safety help over the top was
more evident when safety Aaron Williams went down from a cheap shot from Miami
WR Jarvis Landry. With McDermott running more of a 4-3 Zone defensive scheme, it
made Darby expendable as the return in assets dictated forward thinking.
Offensively adding Jordan Mathews suggests the Bills will employ a quicker-short
pass game to complement the league’s best run attack (Bills lead the NFL in
rush yards 2015 & 2016). On paper the Bills have a squad that could improve
on it 24.9 points per game average (2016).
As for the
Eagles, they continue to stock pile defensive players to improve their
shortcomings from a year ago. I feel Darby will fit in well with the Eagles as
they possess one of the game’s best safeties in Malcolm Jenkins. Eagles DC Jim
Schwartz and his attacking style 4-3 Wide 9 will promote Darby’s talents more than
Rex Ryan did in his time in Buffalo. Offensively the Eagles have been rumored
to move Matthews for quite some time and seem to have faith with their cast of
characters to date. Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, Nelson Agholor, along with
rookie upstart Mack Hollins, the Eagles feel they are set at WR and viewed this
as a perfect opportunity to send J-Matt packing.
With these
two trades the Bills look to remain competitive in 2017 along with being a
massive player in the 2018 NFL Draft, Bills fans it seems you may have a
direction, finally!
The Rams have
added a piece to assist in the rebuild whereas the Eagles have added great
value on defense with potentially not harming the offensive production.
Very
interesting day indeed!
You have totally jump started my passion for football!!!
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