‘People think I stink?’ Why Eagles prefer this maligned WR over pursuing DeAndre Hopkins

PHILADELPHIA − It was less than an hour after Eagles coach Nick Sirianni singled out wide receiver Quez Watkins on Thursday for standing out in the six spring practices when Watkins made a beautiful double-move and got himself open down the sideline.

Watkins was doing everything that Sirianni had said impressed him so much this offseason. This came after a difficult 2022 season in which Watkins admittedly didn't perform up to his standards. That included a drop in the third quarter of the Super Bowl deep in Chiefs territory that should have resulted in a touchdown.

The Eagles settled for a field goal instead and lost by 3 points.

"I love his attitude of, and I've said this to him, and I have no problem saying it here ... 'Oh, some people think I stink? Wait. Wait,'" Sirianni said. "And that's how he's attacked every day. That's how he's attacked practices. I really think that he looks really good. We know he's got a lot of talent. I'm excited about that."

As for that great double move and the burst of speed to get open Thursday? Watkins dropped Jalen Hurts' pass that drifted toward the sideline. This, too, would have gone for a touchdown had Watkins held onto it.

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The Eagles have seen this before. Against Washington, Watkins got open and caught a 50-yard pass as he fell to the ground. Then he got up and fumbled. In the second Dallas game, Watkins didn't fight hard enough for two passes that were intercepted.

After the season, Watkins took accountability: "I didn’t do a good job stepping up to the plate (last) year. You best believe, it won’t happen again."

The Eagles do have choices.

It just so happens that star receiver DeAndre Hopkins is looking for a new team after the Arizona Cardinals released the five-time Pro Bowl selection last week. Hopkins, who's 30, has surpassed 1,400 yards receiving three times in his 10 seasons. Hopkins had 717 yards last season despite playing in only nine games, well on pace to surpass 1,200 yards had he played a full season.

Before Hopkins was released, he listed Hurts as one of five quarterbacks he'd love playing with. The others were the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, the Bengals' Joe Burrow, the Ravens' Lamar Jackson and the Chargers' Justin Herbert. Of those five teams, the Eagles have the most available salary cap space, although the Bengals and Chargers are not far behind.

And yet, there's hardly been a sign of interest in Hopkins to give the Eagles a star-studded receiving lineup that includes A.J. Brown (1,496 yards last season), DeVonta Smith (1,196) and tight end Dallas Goedert (702 yards in 12 games).

Hopkins is reportedly visiting the Tennessee Titans this weekend.

When asked about the possibility of adding Hopkins, Sirianni said: "I'm really pleased with the group that we have. You know, (general manager) Howie (Roseman) and myself are always looking for opportunities to make the team better.

"I think we have a really phenomenal room, led by AJ and DeVonta, who have had great springs. And I'm excited about Quez, and I'm excited about (Olamide Zaccheaus). ... You never know what's going to happen, but I really like our room, and I'm really pleased with that room."

The Eagles are excited about Watkins precisely because of how he got himself open Thursday − his blazing speed and his route-running. Defenses have to account for Watkins as a deep threat, whether he's lined up outside or in the slot because he very well could catch one of those deep passes.

That in turn opens up room for Brown, Smith and Goedert to find space up and down the field.

It's that separation that explains why Watkins, a sixth-round pick in 2020, is still on the team, and Jalen Reagor, a first-round pick in the same draft, is not.

Hurts was picked in the second round that year, and he has seen Watkins' potential, too.

"Quez has been doing a really good job," Hurts said. "He’s been playing a number of different positions and he’s been doing a really good job at them. ... We tore it up on the scout team our rookie year, and I have all the trust in him. He’s hungry and he’s used everything as fuel, and I’m glad he’s taken that approach.

"I’m excited to see the show he puts on this year."

That's all relative. Brown, Smith and Goedert will still get the bulk of the passes. Watkins got a taste of that reality last season when he had 33 catches for 354 yards, an average of 10.7 yards per catch. That was down from 2021 when Watkins had 43 catches for 647 and averaged 15.0 yards per catch.

After the 2021 season, Sirianni said Watkins has the potential to be one of the top No. 2 wide receivers in the NFL. That changed a few months later when the Eagles traded for Brown.

But there's still a role for Watkins as a No. 3 receiver, which Sirianni said Watkins is embracing despite the criticism. And that's why the Eagles could very well stick with Watkins instead of going after a much more accomplished receiver like Hopkins.

"(Watkins) can't control what other people think about him," Sirianni said. "He can't control things that may have happened to him last year. Or the opportunities that he got last year, or didn't get. All he can control is how he works, and I've really been excited about how he went about his business."

Practice observations

• Christian Elliss, intercepting machine: The media has been allowed to watch two of the six spring practices. And in each one, Elliss, a linebacker, has intercepted a pass. On Thursday, he picked off Hurts, who was trying to hit tight end Jack Stoll over the middle. Elliss was promoted from the practice squad late last season for special teams play. He could push for playing time as a linebacker.

• Speaking of Hurts: It wasn't the best day for him during the 55-minute practice session. A few plays after Elliss' interception, Hurts threw another pass that was picked off by cornerback Mekhi Garner, an undrafted free agent from LSU. Hurts responded with a deep touchdown pass to Smith.

• Swift lives up to his name: It's hard to get a gauge on the running backs since there's no hitting. But Swift, whom the Eagles traded for during the draft, showed his prowess as a receiver out of the backfield when he took a short pass and burst through the defense.

• Many absences: Several veterans were missing from the final practice before summer break. The OTAs are voluntary. That list included cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry, defensive linemen Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox and offensive linemen Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. Cornerbacks Avonte Maddox and Kelee Ringo, a rookie, didn't practice. The Eagles are off until training camp starts around July 25.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why Eagles are backing Quez Watkins over pursuing DeAndre Hopkins