During much of Lions coach Jim Caldwell’s time with the Colts, quarterback Peyton Manning had Reggie Wayne to go along with Marvin Harrison. It’s no surprise, then, that Caldwell is looking at the possibility of complementing Calvin Johnson with a new Reggie Wayne.
As noted by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Caldwell and G.M. Martin Mayhew attended Watkins’ Pro Day workout on Thursday at Clemson. While all teams were represented, the presence of both coach and General Manager suggest that the Lions -- who know a thing or two about drafting receivers in round one -- have real interest in Watkins.
With the Lions holding the 10th overall pick in the draft, their interest level may not matter; Watkins could be long gone by the time the Lions pick.
Watkins caught 101 passes as a junior, gaining 1,464 yards. He opted not to run the 40-yard dash on Thursday, resting on the 4.43-second performance at the Scouting Combine.
Next, the process of visiting teams commences for Watkins. “I’m getting ready to travel the world,” Watkins said.
The NFL world is waiting, probably not so patiently. While many first-round wideouts fail to make an impact, Watkins is viewed as the best prospect since A.J. Green and Julio Jones exploded onto the scene as top-10 selections three years ago.