10 Eagles Who Won't Return Next Season
By Thomas Erbe
8. Quez Watkins
The Eagles were probably hoping wide receiver Quez Watkins would be one of those diamonds in the rough that fell into their hands in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. They took a late flyer on the Southern Miss Golden Eagle, but little came of it through four seasons.
His best season came in 2022 when he had 43 catches for 647 yards, including a 91-yard sprint to the house. But his yardage numbers have been in decline ever since.
Now, with a roster that has AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith in the wide receiver room, it's going to be hard to find the targets to make it on the roster as a vital asset.
Watkins' best game this season came in the finale against the Giants. He caught eight passes for 93 yards and scored a touchdown. He was not much of a factor in the playoff game, though, catching just three passes for eight yards in the Eagles' wild-card loss to the Buccaneers.
We have seen a change of scenery, and second opportunities spark late draft picks into being viable options for winning teams in the past. Who's to say Watkins cannot be the next star of a movie like that? But it will likely not be made in Philadelphia with the Eagles. They will look to the draft to add to their receiver depth.