Like every little kid has at some point or another, Sammy Watkins has already visualized what he's going to do when he hears his name called at the 2014 NFL Draft. As he makes his way across the stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on May 8, Watkins even knows what will happen as he approaches NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
"It will be a nice business handshake," Watkins said Tuesday on "Path to the Draft." "I'm going to handle myself the right way (to represent) the NFL, myself and the team. So it will probably just be a nice handshake."
Watkins is widely expected to be a top five pick in the draft, so he won't have to wait long to hear his name called. He was one of the record 30 players invited to the draft and is already looking forward to making the most of his trip to the Big Apple.
"Just to get nominated to go there, be on that stage and be chosen by a team is a great opportunity to showcase yourself and the people that supported you," Watkins said. "To walk down the red carpet and everything, it's going to be a good experience. It will be a situation where I get to show myself and what I'm made of."
It won't be a solo trip north to the draft for Watkins. He said his parents, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, his wife, plus a high school football coach he is close with will all attend the draft night festivities with him.
"It will be a great opportunity to have them there," he said.
Recent NFL.com mock drafts have Watkins going to the Cleveland Browns with the fourth overall pick, but he could wind up being selected as high as the second pick to the Rams. He is NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock's top receiver in the draft and fellow analyst Daniel Jeremiah's second overall player in the class.
Rumors have surfaced over the past few weeks that several teams could try to trade up in order to select Watkins, and he's heard just about every scenario in the run up to the draft. At the end of the day though, the speedy receiver will just be happy to hear a team on the other end of the phone telling him the process is all over and he can get back to worrying about just playing football.
"I just can't wait until that phone call comes so I can just forget about everything else," Watkins said. "I just want to get focused on my team, understanding the playbook, and knowing the coaches and teammates."
For some lucky NFL team, it probably can't wait for that moment either, as it turns in the card with Watkins' name on it.
Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.
