Eagles Cut Candidate: Quez Watkins After Olamide Zaccheaus Signing?
The Philadelphia Eagles are just weeks away from the start of training camp at the end of July. And for receiver Quez Watkins, this could mean he has his work cut out for him as he battles for a roster spot.
The third-year receiver out of Southern Miss is being looked at as a potential cut candidate for the Eagles this preseason a season after the former sixth-round pick totaled 354 yards and four touchdowns as the No. 3 receiver for Philadelphia behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Yet, his productions didn't come without struggles, as the dropped deep ball in the Super Bowl stands out. As Watkins would later explain, the potentially dropped touchdown pass in the third quarter was due to a mental lapse as he put his hands up too early, allowing the defensive back to know the ball was on the way. This sort of mental lapse is the type that can (and did) lose games as the Eagles were held to a field goal rather than a touchdown.
It wasn't just the Super Bowl either where Watkins made a costly mistake. His fumble against the Washington Commanders in helped give the Eagles their first loss of the season.
However, coach Nick Sirianni has raved about Watkins this offseason, even calling him one of the more improved standouts since the season ended.
“I have no problem singling one guy out that I think has just done a phenomenal job this offseason is Quez Watkins,” the coach said. “I love his attitude, and I've said this to him, and I have no problem saying it here, some people around here, and it's not in this building, we have a ton of confidence in Quez Watkins, but I kind of sense from him -- he's never said this, but oh, some people think I stink?
But teams have to part ways with players they like every offseason in order to reach the 53-man mark. And with Philadelphia having signed former Atlanta Falcons receiver Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency, the Eagles have a potential replacement for Watkins.
Similar to Watkins, Zaccheaus isn't a big name like Brown or Smith, but that doesn't mean he can't be productive. In his final season in Atlanta, Zaccheaus posted career-highs in yards (533), touchdowns (three), and receptions (40), all while being a solid No. 3 option in the passing game for Atlanta when tight end Kyle Pitts was on the field.
The former undrafted free agent can give the Eagles a true slot receiver, who as evidenced by his one drop last season according to Pro Football Focus last season, can limit his mistakes.
Even with Zaccheaus on the roster, it is still entirely possible that the Eagles employ both him and Watkins, using the latter more as a deep-threat due to his threatening speed.
Ultimately, though, it is a numbers game at the end of the day, and if tough decisions have to be made, Watkins could save the Eagles $3.4 million by being cut.
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