{"id":91381,"date":"2020-07-13T22:33:17","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T02:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=91381"},"modified":"2020-07-13T22:39:30","modified_gmt":"2020-07-14T02:39:30","slug":"philadelphia-eagles-wide-receiver-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/07\/13\/philadelphia-eagles-wide-receiver-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Battle: Starters, Backups, and Cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> entered the 2020 offseason with a glaring need at the wide receiver position. The unit suffered injury after injury in 2019, forcing Carson Wentz<\/a><\/strong> to carry more than his fair share of the offense. Howie Roseman<\/strong> and company added several key bodies to the receiver room, but will it be enough? Let\u2019s take a look at the current depth chart and see how the competition could shake out over the next couple of months.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Preview<\/h2>\n

The (Presumed) Starters<\/h3>\n

If the season started today, DeSean Jackson<\/a><\/strong> and Jalen Reagor<\/strong><\/a> would probably be the starters. Jackson\u2019s off-field issues are certainly a problem, but let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Carson Wentz is one of the NFL\u2019s better deep passers when he actually has a target capable of stretching the field. The Eagles wouldn\u2019t have held on to Jackson if they didn\u2019t think he could still make an impact in the passing game, and he could sneakily turn into a key member of this passing attack.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Alshon Jeffery<\/a><\/strong> would be in this section, but he\u2019ll probably start the year<\/a> on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Lisfranc surgeries aren\u2019t easy to come back from, especially as Jeffery\u2019s advanced age. Sadly, anything he gives in 2020 should be considered a bonus.<\/p>\n

Primary Depth<\/h3>\n

The Eagles knew they needed more help at wide receiver and acquired Marquise Goodwin<\/a><\/strong> during the 2020 NFL Draft. Goodwin is essentially a poor mans\u2019 DeSean Jackson, blessed with blazing speed and the ability to take the top off a defense. While he lacks Jackson\u2019s consistency, there is a very good chance Goodwin plays a large role in the offense. Jackson isn\u2019t exactly the picture of health, and Goodwin\u2019s skill set allows him to seamlessly slide into that role.<\/p>\n

Greg Ward<\/a><\/strong> 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<\/a><\/strong>, Ward demonstrated an ability to win at the point of attack and make some plays on the ball. He\u2019s nobody\u2019s idea of a starter, but you could certainly do worse for a fourth or fifth receiver.<\/p>\n

J.J. Arcega-Whiteside<\/strong><\/a> 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\u2019s too early to call him a complete bust, but he might lose his job if he doesn\u2019t make a massive leap in Year 2.<\/p>\n

The Rest<\/h3>\n

The bottom of the depth chart is comprised of John Hightower<\/a>, Quez Watkins<\/a>, Robert Davis<\/a>, Deontay Burnett<\/a>, Shelton Gibson<\/a><\/strong>, and Marcus Green<\/a><\/strong>. 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<\/a> prior to the NFL Draft was Marquise Goodwin.<\/p>\n

As you can expect from a late-round pick, he\u2019s pretty rough around the edges and is something of a one-trick pony. There\u2019s plenty of potential in this pick, but he\u2019s 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\u2019d have a much better shot of sticking around. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in, and he\u2019ll probably start the year on the practice squad.<\/p>\n

Overall Prediction For Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Depth Chart<\/h3>\n

Zach Ertz<\/a><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

After that, things start to look a little bleak. Alshon Jeffery probably won\u2019t be back for the start of the season, which means Greg Ward is probably the next man up. Ward certainly doesn\u2019t possess elite physical traits, but he has some NFL production and the trust of Carson Wentz. That\u2019s more than J.J. Arcega-Whiteside can say, who will need a massive Year 2 breakout to earn a role in this offense.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>