PHILADELPHIA − By now, the image of Quez Watkins getting behind his defender in the Super Bowl and letting the ball slip through his hands is ingrained in the minds of Eagles fans everywhere.
Yet there was Watkins on Tuesday saying, “I’m an elite receiver,” on a team with truly elite receivers in A.J. Brown, who had a franchise-record 1,496 yards receiving last season, and DeVonta Smith, who had 1,196.
Watkins then added: “I feel like this year, and the years to come, I’m going to put that on display.”
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Watkins might actually have a point, but it’ll probably have to come on another team beginning in 2024.
That’s because as far back as January 2022, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was saying that Watkins could become one of the top No. 2 receivers on a team in the NFL.
Of course, Sirianni said that before the Eagles traded for Brown in the spring of 2022, giving the Eagles an elite pair of wide receivers, and relegating Watkins to the No. 4 option after tight end Dallas Goedert.
That likely won’t change this season on the Eagles. If anything, Watkins’ battle for targets could be even harder this season after the Eagles signed former Atlanta Falcon Olamide Zaccheaus to compete with Watkins as the third wide receiver.
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Watkins, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick in 2020, is eligible for free agency after this season. There’s a good chance that a team will pay Watkins, who recently turned 25, a salary commensurate for a No. 2 receiver, likely in the $10 million per year range.
It most likely won’t be the Eagles, who have Brown signed long-term, and Smith eligible for a contract extension after this season. Goedert is already making nearly $15 million per season in average salary.
Watkins was asked if the potential for a big payday weighs on his mind.
“A little bit, but you play ball,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for.”
And Watkins is still with the Eagles, as opposed to their first-round pick in 2020, Jalen Reagor, because he has elite separation speed. That makes Watkins dangerous, even if he isn’t catching the ball, because he opens up the rest of the field for Brown, Smith and Goedert.
So when Watkins is catching the ball, like he has been through the first week of training camp, it’s a different dynamic for the Eagles’ offense.
It’s also why Watkins said the Eagles’ offense didn’t click on all cylinders last season, even though they ranked third in the NFL in scoring, averaging 28 points per game.
“Most definitely,” Watkins said about making a difference in helping the offense improve. “We all know what we’re capable of. So we just want to continue that.”
And Watkins said he’s in the right mindset to put a disappointing 2022 season behind him. That included admittedly sulking somewhat after he lost opportunities last season with Brown, Smith and Goedert getting the vast majority of the targets.
Watkins had 33 catches for 354 yards, a far cry from his 2021 season pre-Brown, when Watkins had 43 catches for 647 yards.
Perhaps the Eagles, wondering if that would continue, signed Zaccheaus to compete with Watkins as the slot receiver.
Watkins, however, took it in stride.
“It’s competition,” he said. “This is the big leagues. You gotta play ball. It’s not about what you did last year, the year before. It’s what you’re doing now.”
All the while, Watkins’ teammates have raved about his attitude during the offseason. His play so far in training camp has shown that, too.
On Sunday, Watkins got open deep and made the catch down the sideline. He also caught one intermediate pass on the sideline while managing to get both feet down, and another one over the middle in traffic.
On Tuesday, Brown and Smith stole the show as Brown caught a long touchdown pass from Hurts over the middle and Smith caught two passes that went for at least 30 yards.
“Quez has done a great job,” Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson said, mentioning Watkins’ sideline catches. “He’s highly, highly motivated, and he’s obviously very talented … and that (wide receiver) group in general, this being the third year in (Sirianni’s) offense, there’s a level of confidence that comes with knowing exactly what to do, the adjustments that need to happen before they even happen.
“Quez has been no different.”
As for Watkins, he has already put the Super Bowl drop behind him, as well as last season in general.
“It’s in the past, so it stays in the past,” Watkins said. “We’re working on the now. Shoot, honestly, I’m focused up now. It’s a different season. It’s a different me.”
And if that’s true, Watkins will become an elite receiver − most likely for another team beginning in 2024.
Jalen Carter shows he’s the real deal in 1-on-1s
- For the Eagles, Tuesday’s practice was the first with pads on, which means the offensive and defensive linemen went against each other in 1-on-1s. First-round defensive tackle Jalen Carter pushed first-team right guard Cam Jurgens back on his first try, then was held off by fellow rookie Tyler Steen. Later, Jurgens held off Carter for a draw. The most impressive move was by fellow rookie Nolan Smith, an edge rusher, who blew by his man Chim Okorafor, a lineman trying to make the team.
- Defensive back Mekhi Gardner had the hit of the day when he leveled Charleston Rambo with a forearm shiver as Rambo caught a pass. Both players went flying, but Rambo impressively held onto the ball.
- Backup QB Marcus Mariota threw his fourth interception of camp. But don’t read too much into that. He’s still learning the offense and the players around him. And he also showed that he can run.
- The Eagles are off Wednesday and return to practice Thursday morning.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
