The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2020 offseason with a glaring need at the wide receiver position. The unit suffered injury after injury in 2019, forcing Carson Wentz to carry more than his fair share of the offense. Howie Roseman and company added several key bodies to the receiver room, but will it be enough? Let’s take a look at the current depth chart and see how the competition could shake out over the next couple of months.
Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Preview
The (Presumed) Starters
If the season started today, DeSean Jackson and Jalen Reagor would probably be the starters. Jackson’s off-field issues are certainly a problem, but let’s keep the focus on the field for the time being. Jackson essentially missed the entire 2019 season to injury, but he managed to make a massive impact when on the field. During his only healthy game of the season, Jackson recorded eight receptions on nine targets for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Carson Wentz is one of the NFL’s better deep passers when he actually has a target capable of stretching the field. The Eagles wouldn’t have held on to Jackson if they didn’t think he could still make an impact in the passing game, and he could sneakily turn into a key member of this passing attack.
Jalen Reagor has tons of upside and a fantastic opportunity. The first-round pick possesses the ability to win at all three levels of the field and can line up all over the formation. While drops can be something of an issue, his college tape shows a player capable of getting open against just about any type of coverage while simultaneously having the athleticism and ball skills to win contested catches. Rookies are going to have a tough time contributing in this shortened offseason, but Reagor is probably the most talented receiver on the roster. If he can keep up with the mental aspect of the game and develop a rapport with Wentz, he could be the most productive receiver in his class.
Alshon Jeffery would be in this section, but he’ll probably start the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Lisfranc surgeries aren’t easy to come back from, especially as Jeffery’s advanced age. Sadly, anything he gives in 2020 should be considered a bonus.
Primary Depth
The Eagles knew they needed more help at wide receiver and acquired Marquise Goodwin during the 2020 NFL Draft. Goodwin is essentially a poor mans’ DeSean Jackson, blessed with blazing speed and the ability to take the top off a defense. While he lacks Jackson’s consistency, there is a very good chance Goodwin plays a large role in the offense. Jackson isn’t exactly the picture of health, and Goodwin’s skill set allows him to seamlessly slide into that role.
Greg Ward was the last man standing at the end of 2019 and actually played surprisingly well, considering the circumstances. While nobody would confuse him with Julio Jones, Ward demonstrated an ability to win at the point of attack and make some plays on the ball. He’s nobody’s idea of a starter, but you could certainly do worse for a fourth or fifth receiver.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside needs to turn his career around in a hurry. The 2019 second-round pick was nothing short of disastrous last year, recording just 10 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown on 22 targets. This low output had nothing to do with a lack of opportunity, as the Eagles desperately needed receiver help throughout the 2019 campaign. It’s too early to call him a complete bust, but he might lose his job if he doesn’t make a massive leap in Year 2.
The Rest
The bottom of the depth chart is comprised of John Hightower, Quez Watkins, Robert Davis, Deontay Burnett, Shelton Gibson, and Marcus Green. Of these players, Hightower is probably the most interesting. The Boise State product possesses blazing speed and the ability to make game-breaking plays in the open field. Interestingly enough, my comp for him prior to the NFL Draft was Marquise Goodwin.
As you can expect from a late-round pick, he’s pretty rough around the edges and is something of a one-trick pony. There’s plenty of potential in this pick, but he’s facing an uphill battle to make the roster. If he had an entire offseason program and full slate of preseason games to prove his worth, he’d have a much better shot of sticking around. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in, and he’ll probably start the year on the practice squad.
Overall Prediction For Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Depth Chart
Zach Ertz is still going to be the primary option in the passing attack, but the receivers are better equipped to carry their end of the bargain. DeSean Jackson and Jalen Reagor should earn the first shot at the starting jobs, although both spots are anything but secure.
Jackson has a long history of injuries, and Reagor is a rookie trying to overcome a steep learning curve. Should either player not be ready for the start of the season, Marquise Goodwin is likely to be the first man off the bench. Goodwin only has one season of high production, but he has a good skillset for this offense. He could serve as a solid starter if given the opportunity.
After that, things start to look a little bleak. Alshon Jeffery probably won’t be back for the start of the season, which means Greg Ward is probably the next man up. Ward certainly doesn’t possess elite physical traits, but he has some NFL production and the trust of Carson Wentz. That’s more than J.J. Arcega-Whiteside can say, who will need a massive Year 2 breakout to earn a role in this offense.
After that comes nothing but depth receivers and untested late-round rookies. If the season started tomorrow, the Eagles would probably roll with Jackson, Reagor, Goodwin, Ward, Arcega-Whiteside, and Hightower as the six pure receivers on the roster, with Jeffery on the PUP. Arcega-Whiteside makes it thanks to his draft capital as much as anything, and could be off the roster if someone like Quez Watkins puts together a strong camp.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
