This Chiefs Starter Won't Be Back in 2021

Sammy Watkins and the Kansas City Chiefs came to an agreement on a new one-year deal in 2020 to keep the wide receiver in town. He showed up in 2018 and has a combined 92 catches for 1,192 yards in his two seasons, and also had a huge postseason to help KC win the Super Bowl in February.

His future beyond 2020 remains in question, however. Watkins and the Chiefs structured his current deal to be more team-friendly, and the receiver made comments how he wants to be more involved in the offense. He is set to earn nearly $9 million in 2020, and if he doesn't step up his producivity, he may become too expensive to retain into 2021.

Watkins finished third among Chiefs pass-catchers in receiving yards in 2019, but was notably second in targets behind only Travis Kelce. He is already being targeted a lot; causing any drama for not being the focal point of the offense is a sure way for him to be let go after this season.

The receiver is a former first-round pick and has been a nice fit in the Kansas City offense in some key moments. Players like Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson, and Mecole Hardman will all be competing with him for targets in 2020, however, to say nothing of the All-Pro Kelce. Watkins leaving Kansas City in 2021 may ultimately be the only option, but that doesn't mean KC fans shouldn't hope for the best in the meantime.