Chiefs GM Brett Veach: It will be 'challenging to retain' Sammy Watkins

There continues to be public mutual interest in wide receiver Sammy Watkins remaining with the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the start of free agency on March 17. 

While updating the statuses of multiple players on Monday, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said that he's positive about the thought of Mecole Hardman and/or Byron Pringle potentially replacing Watkins in the rotation. However, he is also keen on re-signing the 27-year-old wideout. 

"I love Sammy and I love what he does for our offense," Veach explained, per Adam Teicher of ESPN. "There will be challenges this year. It will be a lot more challenging to retain him and bring him back this year just because of where we are. We were able to work with him and his agent last year and make it work. This year it will probably be more difficult just because we'll have some work to do to get under the cap, and once we do, we'll have to see where the markets go." 

Veach added: 

"I can't see us running out of the gates the first week in free agency and signing a receiver. I don't think that's where we're at. If the market falls and things make sense for us, we'll be smart and selective. If something doesn't work out for us in free agency, I think there's enough depth to allow us to address it potentially in the draft."

Both Watkins and Veach said ahead of the Super Bowl LV loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that they were interested in continuing the relationship between player and club. Watkins may have to accept a team-friendly discount to stay with Kansas City, however, as his lengthy and concerning injury history, along with the franchise's other options at the position and salary-cap restrictions, could make him expendable for a club practically guaranteed to have a high-octane offense with or without Watkins. 

Per ESPN stats, Watkins finished the regular season fifth on the Chiefs with 37 receptions. He also recorded 421 receiving yards and two touchdowns.