With Watkins on board, Rams will finally know what they have in Goff

Los Angeles Rams fans may finally find out how good Jared Goff can be now that they have a legitimate home run threat in Sammy Watkins.

Los Angeles Rams newest wide receiver Sammy Watkins has yet to catch a pass from quarterback Jared Goff. But off all the moves made by LA this offseason, second only to the hiring of Sean McVay, the acquisition of Watkins may be the most significant.

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Why? Because two things that the Rams have lacked was a legitimate franchise type quarterback, and a receiver who could stretch the field for that quarterback.

Sammy Watkins is THAT guy.

Fans hoped it might be Tavon Austin. Nope, he’s a gadget type guy.

Pharoh Cooper? No, he’s likely a player who will find himself specific to special teams and a likely second or third option type of receiver.

Cooper Kupp is already a fan favorite, but he’s not a Watkins type. He’s just fine being a ‘Kupp’ type.

Before Friday, fans could only hope a downfield threat would emerge from the bevy of receivers on the roster. While roles will still develop, the one most questioned and hoped for can probably be taken of the table.

For Goff, that’s a very good thing.

It’ll also a challenge for him, and that’s an even better thing.

Goff didn’t play a lot Saturday night against the Dallas Cowboys. It was clear McVay was determined to keep to a minimum his first team on the field. Whether you agree or disagree with that approach is another story. Moving forward however, the second year quarterback will need to expedite the ‘chemistry’ find with his newest receiver.

Something both Goff and the Rams need to do, and do quickly.

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In Watkins, Los Angeles will finally find out if all that pre-draft tape from 2016 is accurate about the big arm and touch former coach Jeff Fisher, and still on the job General Manager Les Snead loved enough to stockpile the Tennessee Titans for.

In fairness to Goff, and given the approach McVay is taking in ramping up to the regular season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, time is not necessarily on his side.

How much does Friday’s trade move the needle on a Rams team picked to go 4-12 again by most? Hard to say. But just as important if not more, what does the trade do for the fortunes of Goff?

Can Watkins be ‘his guy?’

Fans will begin to find out today as they are on the practice field for the first time this afternoon.