Eagles hosted Villanova QB Connor Watkins on a predraft workout
The Eagles fancy themselves as a quarterback factory, and even after moving up Tanner McKee and acquiring Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the team is still evaluating signal callers.
Aaron Wilson reports that former Villanova quarterback Connor Watkins had a predraft visit and workout with the Super Bowl champions on Friday.
Watkins went 176 for 342 this year with 2,102 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. It was his third consecutive season with at least 2,000 passing yards. In the last three years, Watkins threw for 6,840 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions.
Advertisement
Overall, Watkins started 38 of 50 games at Villanova, passing for 7,309 yards and 50 touchdowns on 471 completions. The six-foot-three quarterback is also a capable dual-threat, rushing for 1,256 yards and 27 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Villanova QB Connor Watkins visits Eagles ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Colorado Replaces Folsom Field's Grass Amid Former Heisman Calling Out Risks
Colorado Replaces Folsom Field's Grass Amid Former Heisman Calling Out Risks originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Colorado Football is transitioning from natural grass to artificial turf at Folsom Field. A new premium AstroTurf system is nearly installed, replacing the natural grass surface that has been in place since 1998. While it will be easier to maintain, one former Heisman winner is speaking out about the risks associated with playing on turf. Advertisement Reggie Bush was one of the most electric talents in college football's modern era. However, his NFL career was cut short in 2015 due to a freak injury on an unsafe surface in St. Louis. Bush recently said NFL Players are playing on unsafe surfaces every Sunday, and they need to fight back against it. "One thing I think they need to get rid of that's still out there and is still an issue is field turf," Bush told GQ. "When we look at the studies and the correlation between field turf and ACLs, PCLs, meniscuses, just about all leg injuries, a lot of it is traced back to the surface that you play on. They're playing on one of the most dangerous surfaces. We don't see soccer being played on field turf! In Europe, they would never allow that. Right? "For some reason here—especially the NFL, which is the most dangerous sport—you're playing on the most dangerous surface. The reason why it's dangerous is because athletes are now bigger, stronger, faster. It continues to evolve. When you're that strong and that fast, something's going to give. You plant your foot into that turf and what happens is turf will grab. Grass gives." If Deion Sanders wants to model his program to be the most NFL-ready in the nation, it starts with being consistent with what's going on in the league. Three of the past four Super Bowl winners play on grass at their respective home stadiums. Advertisement Related: Where Shedeur Sanders Stands in Browns' QB Depth Chart Today For Bush, the NFL's owners will always prioritize costs over safety. "Unfortunately, NFL owners still believe that turf is the cheapest, most cost-efficient way in a league that analyzes billions every year," Bush said. "It's unfortunate. It will continue until the players decide to stand up and say, 'Listen, we don't want to play on turf anymore.' The thing is, all players hate it." Related: Deion Sanders Cancels Speaking Engagement as Rumors Swirl With the House settlement now finalized and the College Sports Commission being established, the college football players need a union to represent them. The topic of playing surfaces should be a top priority in future negotiations with the commission. Advertisement If you want a good sample size, the NFLPA has said that its own surveys show more than 90 percent of players prefer playing on grass. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tony Grossi Has Words for Shedeur Sanders Hype: ‘He's a Developmental QB'
Tony Grossi Has Words for Shedeur Sanders Hype: 'He's a Developmental QB' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The honeymoon phase for Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland might be short-lived, at least if you ask longtime Browns analyst Tony Grossi. Advertisement As hype continues to swell around the Colorado Buffaloes legend following his selection in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Grossi is stepping in with a reality check. Appearing on 850 ESPN Cleveland, the veteran radio personality made it clear: the media is overhyping Sanders' early flashes, and it could be doing the young quarterback more harm than good. Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) catches a ballKen Blaze-Imagn Images 'The media are doing Shedeur a disservice by inflating where he's at right now,' Grossi said. 'He's a developmental quarterback, just like Dillon Gabriel—he's not a franchise quarterback.' Grossi's words were blunt but calculated. While many headlines are praising Sanders' accuracy in open OTAs, Grossi says the narrative doesn't match the reps. Sanders is the only QB in the Browns' room not taking consistent snaps with the starters, a telling sign for a team actively evaluating its future at the position. Advertisement Despite being one of the most high-profile names in college football under Coach Deion 'Prime' Sanders at Colorado, Shedeur slid to the fifth round in April. He now finds himself behind Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, journeyman Kenny Pickett, and Oregon standout Dillon Gabriel, who, it's worth noting, was drafted before Sanders. Grossi didn't mince words on the depth chart either. 'Overinflating expectations is just not good,' he added. 'He's not close to being QB1.' This might feel like a gut punch to Colorado fans who watched Sanders throw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2024 despite playing behind one of the most porous offensive lines in college football. Still, Grossi's point isn't about talent, it's about timing and development. Advertisement The Cleveland Browns are notoriously cautious with quarterbacks, and with Flacco likely serving as a bridge, the team can afford to let Sanders mature behind the scenes. That's not the narrative fans want, but it may be the one that sets Shedeur up for long-term success. Colorado fans know what Shedeur can do. They've seen him perform under pressure, carry a program in transition, and silence critics with his arm and poise. If there's anything we've learned from Shedeur Sanders' journey so far, it's this: doubt him at your own risk. So, let's keep receipts. Whether Grossi is spot on or shortsighted, time, and Shedeur will tell. Advertisement Related: Deion Sanders Cancels Speaking Engagement as Rumors Swirl Related: Colorado Replaces Folsom Field's Grass Amid Former Heisman Calling Out Risks This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rashee Rice Sends Clear Message to Chiefs WR Amid Offseason
Rashee Rice Sends Clear Message to Chiefs WR Amid Offseason originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Coming off their surprising blowout loss in Super Bowl LIX, the Kansas City Chiefs suffered a pretty big dent in their aura of invincibility. Advertisement But while there are those who predict them to take a step back this coming season, the reality is that they still have a very strong roster. If anything, they could become a little bit better, mostly because wide receiver Rashee Rice is expected back after a knee injury in Week 4 of 2024 prematurely ended his season. Teammate Marquise Brown took to Instagram to post a message as the Chiefs continue to gather for organized team activities (OTAs) with the start of the 2025 campaign three months away. "Hope these voices in my head go quiet 🥷🏿🌪️," he wrote. Rice responded with the comment "My Bloody!🤞🏾♥️." After trading superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill in 2022, Kansas City has had what has seemed like a revolving door at that position. But Rice has given them hope that he can become a major go-to guy. Advertisement After he was a second-round draft pick in 2023, he caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie while starting eight of 16 games. Until his injury last fall, he had 24 receptions, 288 yards and two touchdowns in four games. He isn't quite as speedy as Hill, but he has shown plenty of promise in one season and change. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4).Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports The new speedster in Kansas City is wideout Xavier Worthy, who set a new NFL scouting combine record by running the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds in 2024. As a rookie last year, he had 744 total yards and nine total touchdowns. In that Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he posted eight receptions, 157 yards and two touchdowns. Advertisement Related: Stefon Diggs Makes Strong Statement on Monday After Personal Event This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
