Getty Hunter Renfrow, Davante Adams & Alex Bars of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was quick to gush about Quez Watkins when asked to single out a star from OTAs. Then, as if the two had coordinated it, quarterback Jalen Hurts showed love for Watkins a few hours later.
But praise in early June doesn’t guarantee anything, and cynics might say it’s a ploy to raise the trade value of Watkins, who is a candidate to be traded, according to CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin.
If the Eagles are looking to move Watkins, they could look to swap No. 3 receivers with Las Vegas, who could be looking to trade Hunter Renfrow, as some have intimated.
“If the Eagles want to upgrade at that wide receiver three position Renfrow could be an option,” said Chase Senior of Chat Sports, a sports video channel on YouTube. “He’s not the biggest dude in the world. He’s not the fastest guy in the National Football League at the wide receiver position. But he is a great route-runner. He is a technician with his footwork, and he’s very crafty with his ability to get open.”
However, the Raiders have received no trade offers for Renfrow, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. After a Pro Bowl season in 2022, when he caught 1,038 yards and 9 touchdowns, Renfrow appeared in only 10 games (starting one of them) and tallied only 330 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. He will have a cap hit of $13 million season, the fifth highest on the Raiders.
Update on the Hunter Renfrow trade situation, via The Athletic.
Renfrow, Jakobi Meyers, and third-round rookie Tre Tucker all fit best in the slot. Davante Adams also lined up in slot on 30% of his snaps last year.
In his story about post-draft trade candidates, Benjamin lists the “logical landing spots” for Watkins as the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.
Quez Watkins vs. Olamide Zaccheaus: Starting Slot WR
The starting slot receiver spot is one of the biggest battles expected at Eagles training camp. It could turn into an all-out war between Quez Watkins and Olamide Zaccheaus. Watkins is the incumbent starter who has been earning kudos so far this spring, while Zaccheaus continues to learn the playbook after inking a one-year contract. The whole receivers room is going to be very competitive, according to Sirianni.
“I think we have a really phenomenal room led by A.J. [Brown] and DeVonta [Smith], who have had great springs,” Sirianni said. “I’m excited about Quez [Watkins], I’m excited about OZ [Olamide Zaccheaus]. I’m just excited. Britain Covey has taken another step. We have some young guys in the fold that I really like.”
Jalen Hurts on Quez Watkins: “Quez has been doing a really good job. He’s been playing a number of different positions, and he’s been doing a really good job at them. Quez is a guy that I came in with, I worked out with him before we both got drafted here.” #Eagles #FlyEaglesFly
Hurts threw his hat in Watkins’ ring in the fight for WR3. They broke into the NFL together in 2020.
“We tore it up on the scout team our rookie year and I have all the trust in him,” Hurts said. “He’s hungry. And he’s used everything as fuel and I’m glad he’s taking that approach. I’m excited to see the show that he puts on this year.”
Eagles End OTAs, Report Back on July 24
The Eagles held their final practice of OTAs on June 8 as they go into hibernation for six weeks. It was an indoor session at the bubble due to air-quality concerns stemming from the Canadian wildfires. They’ll return to the NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia the week of July 24 for the start of training camp.
All ’bout the reps