Sammy Watkins' Contract Option Reportedly Unlikely to Be Picked Up by Bills

The Buffalo Bills reportedly won't pick up the fifth-year option in the rookie contract of wide receiver Sammy Watkins because of concerns about his foot injuries.

On Friday, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reported the Bills are hesitant to invest in Watkins while he recovers from his latest foot surgery. The team could still sign him to a long-term extension or use the franchise tag if he plays well in 2017.

Buffalo traded up in the 2014 draft to select Watkins with the fourth overall pick. He's failed to live up to expectations for a myriad of reasons, including the inability to prove he can handle a high-volume role without getting banged up and the team's lackluster passing attack.

The 23-year-old Clemson product has tallied 153 catches for 2,459 yards and 17 touchdowns across 37 NFL games. He caught just 28 passes in eight games in 2016 after an extended stay on injured reserve because of foot issues.

In December, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW reported Watkins voiced his displeasure with the amount of losing he's done in Buffalo after a successful college career.

"[It's] very stressful. Being at college, I probably lost five games, six games my whole career," he said. "It's a culture. That's something that we've got to change, whether it's us as players, the coaches, the organization, the mindsets of us. We've got to change. We've got to think like the fans—be all in. Whatever happens, we win the game, we come out on top...that's what we've got to do."

One reason the Bills own the league's longest playoff drought—17 years—is the organization has not retained the talented players it drafts.

This offseason provided another example. Buffalo selected cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the 10th overall pick in 2012, but the front office let him walk in free agency, and he signed with the AFC East rival New England Patriots. The Bills picked LSU's Tre'Davious White in Round 1 on Thursday to help fill the void.

It's been an endless cycle of similar stories for nearly two decades. Though Watkins' health woes are a concern, his departure would create another hole on the roster that will require the front office to invest future resources to fill.

Barring any further setbacks, Watkins will be the Bills' top wide receiver heading into the 2017 campaign. He'll need a breakout year if the team is finally going to end its extended postseason absence.