The Buffalo Bills have not made the playoffs in 17 years, and general manager Brandon Beane has decided the team needed to take some drastic measures. In one trade, the Bills dealt top cornerback Ronald Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles for wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a third round pick. In the other, the Bills shockingly decided to trade Sammy Watkins, whom Buffalo drafted with the 4th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

Watkins' Time with the Bills

Watkins has had a varied career with the Bills, as he struggled to stay on the field for an entire season for his entire time with the team.

His best year came in 2015, when Watkins had 60 receptions for over 1000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. In 2015, Watkins was easily one of the best receivers in the league in the second half of the year.

Unfortunately, his production declined significantly in 2016, as he had only 28 catches for 430 receiving yards and just two touchdowns. He again struggled to stay on the field with injury issues. Those injury issues have been a continuous problem for the Bills since he was drafted, and it's likely that those medical concerns played a part in the Bills trade decision.

Watkins' Tweet Thanking the Team

Even though Sammy had expected to be in Buffalo for at least this year, he hasn't criticized the team for its decision.

Instead, he has accepted the decision of general manager Brandon Beane and even thanked Buffalo for all the memories.

He ended his Tweet with a suggestion that he would be bringing some serious game to the Rams.

It's hard to really see him being a monster receiver with Jared Goff at quarterback, but Bills fans definitely know how skilled Watkins can be when he stays on the field. Here's a video that is just a reminder of how explosive Watkins is when he is healthy.

A Good Trade?

Opinions of the Bills trade have varied widely. Many fans are glad that he is gone, as they are tired of watching Watkins sit on the bench with injuries.

But there are also a ton of Bills who are upset that the star wide receiver has been traded. He was easily the most dynamic receiver on the roster, and the Bills are left with slot receiver Jordan Matthews as their new number one.

For what it's worth, Jordan Matthews has been way more consistent than Watkins, as he has had at least 800 receiving yards and 65 receptions every single season. Still, it's hard not to see Matthews as a significant downgrade from Watkins.

As a Bills fan, I'm glad to see that Watkins appreciated his time in Buffalo and I am sorry that he had to go. This does not change the fact that I am still excited to see what Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy will bring to the table this season.
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