Sammy Watkins likes Lions' offense

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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Sammy Watkins likely will be off the board by the time the Detroit Lions pick at No. 10 overall in next month's NFL draft.

But Watkins said he would welcome the opportunity to join the star-studded offense in Detroit.

"It'd be definitely a blessing playing with Megatron [Calvin Johnson] and Golden Tate, having Reggie Bush and Matthew Stafford," Watkins told the Detroit Free Press. "They're doing a great job with the program with all the coaches. If I ever go there, sky's the limit."

Watkins offered similar sentiments to ESPN.com at the NFL scouting combine in February, saying it would "be a blessing" to play opposite Johnson with the Lions.

Watkins recently was projected as the No. 7 overall pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper's latest mock draft. The former Clemson receiver also was ranked as the fourth-best overall draft prospect by ESPN's Todd McShay.

Watkins is visiting with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who own the third overall pick, on Wednesday, and is scheduled to meet with the St. Louis Rams, who have the No. 2 overall pick, on Monday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Watkins also is scheduled to have a private workout with the Rams on April 18, according to the source.

The Lions, who went 7-9 last season, also have demonstrated their interest in Watkins on multiple occasions this offseason. They hosted Watkins on Tuesday for a pre-draft visit, and team executives also had dinner with the talented receiver before scouting him at Clemson's pro day.

Although Watkins is widely projected to be drafted before Detroit's pick at No. 10, he did not dismiss the possibility of the Lions trading up to select him.

"Anything can happen," Watkins told the Free Press. "You don't know what team's jumping up for the first pick, anybody can be jumping up, so who knows? You never know."

ESPN.com Lions reporter Michael Rothstein contributed to this report.

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