UPDATE: Watkins has reached a contract agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jaguars have shown interest in Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins, a league source told First Coast News on Monday.
Watkins is set to become a free agent on Wednesday after spending one season in Los Angeles. Prior to joining the Rams, Watkins played three seasons for the Buffalo Bills. His first season in Buffalo was played under Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Watkins dealt with injuries throughout his time in Buffalo and was traded - along with a sixth-round pick - to the Rams this past offseason for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second-round pick.
Watkins produced 39 catches for 593 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games for the Rams. His best NFL season was in 2015 when he produced 60 catches for 1,047 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Watkins would be a replacement for fellow impending free agent Allen Robinson. The current Jaguars wide receiver is also testing the market during the NFL's legal tampering period. If Robinson were to leave Jacksonville, Watkins would be a solid backup plan.
The two players actually have pretty similar career outputs. Watkins is a Fort Myers native and a Clemson alum. He may be looking to head back to the southeast.
Watkins is a speed upgrade to Robinson. During the 2014 NFL Combine, Watkins ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash while Robinson ran a 4.60.
The Jaguars may view Watkins as a better compliment to the running game than Robinson. Watkins' presence could seemingly stretch the field, forcing a deep safety to leave the tackle box.
In turn, there would be more running lanes for last year's first-round pick Leonard Fournette. The elevated coverage would also allow for easier underneath routes for Watkins' fellow receivers.
The Jaguars currently have Allen Hurns, Keelan Cole, Dede Westbrook, Rashad Greene and Jaydon Mickens under contract at wide receiver.
Follow Mike Kaye on Twitter: @Mike_E_Kaye
