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The Steelers have been in the market for a wide receiver since trading Diontae Johnson to the Panthers earlier this offseason. They added one with blazing-fast speed on Monday.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Pittsburgh is signing former Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins. The team showed interest in former Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams last week, but he decided to join the Jets.
Watkins is bringing some serious speed to the Steelers’ offense. The 25-year-old ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine when he entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2020.
But he is bringing more than just speed to Pittsburgh. He was pretty productive as the No. 3 or 4 receiver during his time in Philadelphia. Over the past four years, Watkins posted 98 receptions for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns.
Watkins does come with some risk after missing nearly half of the 2023 season due to a hamstring injury. He was able to play in 10 games, including the Eagles’ wild-card playoff matchup against the Buccaneers.
Watkins will now join George Pickens, Calvin Austin and the newly signed Van Jefferson in a Steelers’ receiving corps that likely hasn’t seen its last addition.
He may not be the name fans were hoping to hear, and rightfully so with wide receivers such as Tyler Boyd and Odell Beckham Jr. still available on the open market. But it is unlikely that Pittsburgh is bringing in Watkins to be its No. 2.
Watkins is likely coming at a cheap price and provides further depth to the Steelers wide receiver room. It remains very likely that they will use one of their top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft on a pass-catcher.
Pittsburgh has been one of the best teams in the league at drafting wide receivers outside of the first round. So, look for the Steelers to use a day-two pick on a playmaker.
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