Over the course of the NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles did everything in their power to revamp the wide receiver position. After a season plagued by drops and overall underwhelming play, the Eagles added several speedy receivers while bringing back key veterans. Was it enough to fix the issue, or should Philadelphia have done more to support Carson Wentz?
2020 Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Preview
Presumed Starters: Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Jalen Reagor
Alshon Jeffery showed some signs of slowing down last year, but he still holds on to his spot as a starter in this projection. Thanks to the shortened offseason, it’s going to be hard for any newcomer to contribute in the early part of 2020. Because of this, Jeffery should remain the top receiver in the offense, at least in the early going. While he may not the speed he used to, he can still win on the perimeter and outmuscle defenders at the point of attack. There’s value in that, even if he doesn’t have the highest ceiling in the world.
DeSean Jackson is largely going overlooked, but he could be a crucial part of this offense if he can stay healthy. The former second-round pick started his season on the highest of notes, recording eight receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the 2019 opener. However, he battled injuries throughout the rest of the season and only played a combined 14 snaps in the next 15 games. Health is a major question, but he can still stretch the defense and get open deep.
Jalen Reagor is the most talented rookie to grace Philadelphia in quite some time. Capable of getting open at all three levels of the field, Reagor’s ability to line up all over the formation and make plays should earn him a decent role in this offense. He can be used in a myriad of ways, and a creative offensive coach like Doug Pederson should be able to get the most out of his ability.
Fighting for Depth: Marquise Goodwin, John Hightower, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward
Barring something completely unforeseen, Marquise Goodwin is going to earn a spot on the final roster. The speedster is something of a one-trick pony, but he performs that trick remarkably well. Essentially, he’s a poor mans’ DeSean Jackson and should be able to start if Jackson continues to struggle with injury.
The Eagles knew they needed more speed in this offense and added another deep threat in John Hightower. The rookie is another Jackson clone, albeit he doesn’t have the same outlandish ceiling. It’s hard to imagine a second-round pick losing a job after one season, but J.J. Arcega-Whiteside was so bad that it’s not out of the question. Greg Ward was arguably the best healthy receiver at the end of 2019 and is the frontrunner for the final spot on the depth chart.
Bottom of the Eagles Wide Receiver Depth Chart: Robert Davis, Quez Watkins, Marcus Green, Khalil Tate, Manasseh Bailey
Considering all the Eagles did in the offseason, it’s hard to imagine any of these players earning a spot on the final roster. If anyone overcomes the odds, it’ll probably be Quez Watkins. Watkins is another field-stretching talent, and the Eagles clearly are trying to get as much speed on the roster as possible. In theory, no defense would have the speed to cover Jackson, Hightower, Goodwin, and Watkins on the same play.
The most interesting guy on this list is former quarterback Khalil Tate. The Eagles didn’t think much of Tate as a passer, but clearly think that they can tap into his overall athleticism. While he probably won’t earn a roster spot this year, he’s an intriguing practice squad candidate and could follow Julian Edelman’s path to NFL success.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
