Quez Watkins, a former wide receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles, was signed by the Arizona Cardinals to a future contract, the team announced Thursday.
Watkins, 26, was selected by the Eagles in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Southern Mississippi, and he played for them for the first four years (2020–23). During his time with the Eagles, he caught 98 passes for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns.
In 2021, he had his most successful season with 12 starts in 17 games, 43 receptions, and 647 yards.
During the 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium, Watkins caught one catch for eight yards.
Watkins, who served as Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022, is somewhat known to Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon. Nick Rallis, the defensive coordinator for the Cardinals, was a linebackers coach for Philadelphia for the same two years.
Despite not making the 53-man roster, Watkins inked a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers following the 2023 season. He spent the season on the practice squad after re-signing.
After graduating from college, he demonstrated his speed by running a 40-yard sprint in 4.35 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Trishton Jackson, a wide receiver, was also signed by the Cardinals on Thursday to a future deal.
Jackson participated in two games during the regular season and spent the previous season on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. During the 2023 season, he caught two receptions for nine yards while playing in seven games.
Jackson played collegiate basketball at Syracuse and Michigan State before being undrafted in 2020.
On Monday, the Cardinals inked futures contracts with offensive lineman McClendon Curtis, linebacker Elliott Brown, and cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe.
