Steelers A to Z: Change of scenery, openings at WR lead to Quez Watkins moving across state

Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2024 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 14 and July 25. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

WR Quez Watkins

Experience/age: Fifth season/turned 26 in June

Contract status: $1,152,000 cap hit for 2024 if he makes the team, will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025

The past: Watkins left Southern Miss after the 2019 season as the school’s second-ranked player in career receptions (159) and receiving yards (2,404). He bypassed his senior season to declare for the NFL Draft, and he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round in 2020.

In four seasons with the Eagles, Watkins never matched the kind of production he had in college. After appearing in just six games as a rookie, Watkins was on the field for every game of the 2021-22 seasons. His best year was his second in the NFL when he caught 43 passes for 647 yards. He set a career high in 2022 with three touchdown receptions, but he was limited to one catch for eight yards in three playoff games that year as the Eagles advanced to the Super Bowl.

Last season, Watkins appeared in just nine games, starting five times, because of a hamstring injury that led to a stint on injured reserve. He caught 15 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown for the season.

2024 outlook: Watkins became a free agent in March, and he was one of the players the Steelers signed during the NFL annual meeting in Florida. He has familiarity with Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl, who was in the Eagles personnel department when Watkins was drafted.

With the Steelers entering training camp without a clear-cut No. 2 receiver on the roster, Watkins is one of the pass catchers trying to step into that role. He measures 6-foot, 190 pounds and will try to overcome the drops and fumbles that contributed to his reduced playing time with the Eagles.

The Steelers have an abundance of veteran wide receivers trying to earn playing time this season, with Watkins joining a list that includes Van Jefferson, Marquez Callaway and Scotty Miller as newcomers to the offseason roster.