The Los Angeles Rams traded CB E.J. Gaines and a 2018 second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for WR Sammy Watkins and a 2018 sixth round pick on Friday, August 11.
The former first round pick totaled 125 receptions for 2,029 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first two seasons before a nagging foot injury derailed his production in 2016. Watkins should step in immediately as the number one option in the Rams passing game and provide Jared Goff with a proven target. Watkins will see plenty of targets from his new quarterback. He joins former teammate Robert Woods and the dynamic Tavon Austin in what now looks like it will be a solid receiving core.
The Rams paid a steep price for Watkins, giving up promising cornerback E.J. Gaines and a valuable 2018 second round pick. The team was already thin at the cornerback position and losing Gaines only makes them thinner. They will be relying on newcomers Krayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman to step up next to veteran Trumaine Johnson.
The Rams open their preseason tomorrow night against the Dallas Cowboys, and Watkins will likely make his Rams debut next week against the Oakland Raiders.
Steve Rebeiro is a staff writer and podcast host for Rams Talk. He graduated from Marquette University in 2016. For more of his opinions, follow him on Twitter here.
