NFL odds: With Sammy Watkins back in fold, champion Chiefs return 10 offensive starters
Wideout Sammy Watkins was a potential cap casualty for the Chiefs but has agreed to a new deal.
As if Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes needs any more help on the Super Bowl champions, nine of the other 10 offensive starters around him will now return for the 2020 season with the news that No. 2 wideout Sammy Watkins has agreed to restructure his contract. Kansas City remains the +400 favorite at William Hill sportsbook to win Super Bowl 55.
That Watkins would be in red and white this coming season was far from a sure thing. He was originally scheduled to make $13.75 million in 2020 and have a monster cap hit of $21 million. That was just not tenable for a Chiefs team tight up against the salary cap.
In February, Chiefs GM Brett Veach all but said that there was no way Watkins would be back at his scheduled salary. Just Thursday, Coach Andy Reid wouldn't commit to Watkins returning. In Watkins' new deal, he gets a one-year contract worth up to $16 million that includes $7 million in incentives and a no-trade clause. More important for the Chiefs, it gives them $5 million in salary-cap space. Kansas City had been down to $171 in cap space. Not $171,000, but $171.
Watkins had 52 catches for 673 yards and three scores last regular season but was much more involved in the playoffs with 14 catches for 288 yards and a touchdown. He had a crucial 38-yard the Chiefs' go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LIV.
The former Clemson star is still just 26 – will be 27 in June – and could get major money next offseason as an unrestricted free agent with a big 2020 season.
Good luck to teams knocking off the Chiefs this season. The only offensive starter they have lost is guard Stefen Wisniewski, who signed with Pittsburgh. Five of the team's six leading rushers, eight of its top nine leading receivers and six of its top seven offensive linemen in terms of snaps played are all back. So is highly-respected offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who turned down the heading coach job at Colorado, his alma mater.
Kansas City has a win total of 11.5 at William Hill, tied with Baltimore for the NFL's highest. However, the Over is -140 for the Chiefs (wager $140 to win $100) compared to -115 for the Ravens.
