The Eagles nabbed themselves the second-fastest wide receiver at the NFL Scouting Combine when they selected Quez Watkins with the 200th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
"Honestly, I'm happy. I'm really blessed to be picked up and chosen by the Eagles, so it was really a true blessing," Watkins said on a videoconference call. "Honestly, I'm really just trying to enjoy the moment and really take everything in."
The Southern Miss product was more than a burner, who clocked in at 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine back in February. He was plenty productive in college with 159 receptions for 2,404 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns in his three seasons (37 games/23 starts). A two-time, first-team All-Conference USA selection, Watkins had 64 catches for 1,178 yards (18.4 yards per reception), and six touchdowns in 2019.
At 6-0, 185 pounds, the Athens, Alabama native is only 21 years old. Watkins also brings punt return experience, scoring an additional touchdown in 2018.
Executive Vice President Howie Roseman explained the team's thought process with the 200th pick. The Eagles had already drafted two speedy receivers in Jalen Reagor and John Hightower, plus the team swung a deal for veteran Marquise Goodwin, an Olympic athlete. Why another receiver with a speedy profile?
"I know when we drafted Hightower we had a lot of conversation about Hightower versus Watkins. And then when we moved back and picked up a bunch of picks, we had an opportunity to get Watkins, too. We sat there and we said, 'Let's get both of these guys.' These are guys that we feel passionately about, and let's add them to the team and let competition dictate what's best for our football team," Roseman said.
Watkins relishes the opportunity to compete. He's not happy just being a draft pick.
"I'm really not somebody that's going to try to stay off to the side. I'm going to show up to the competition and show everybody what I'm about. Show them I'm ready to play and show them why I'm an Eagle," Watkins said.
"The practices are going to be, I feel like, up-tempo, and you're going to see a lot of guys just flying around; a lot of 4.3 guys really flying around. A lot speed, a lot of playmakers."
One of those playmakers in an entrenched veteran, one of the best deep-ball receivers in the history of the game in DeSean Jackson.
"Oh, man. DeSean has really been one of my role models as a receiver as speed guy, kind of a similar body style," Watkins said. "Really just ready to start learning and getting a lot of stuff, getting a lot of knowledge from him."
