Philadelphia Eagles: Top positional needs for 2020 offseason

Wide Receiver

The general consensus is the Philadelphia Eagles will be drafting a wide receiver in the first round this year. With the number of quality wide receivers in this year’s draft class, combined with the lack of talent they have on the roster, that might not be such a bad idea.

In 2019 the Philadelphia Eagles had some of the worst receiver production all season. Injuries and player regressions took their toll on the team throughout the season. DeSean Jackson was injured after Week 2, never healthy enough to seriously contribute for the rest of the season.

Alshon Jeffery was injured early as well and spent a large portion of the season on the sideline. After it was reported he had been the source of two leaks to a reporter, describing Wentz in less than flattering terms, his injury history suddenly became a focal point for fans and media. It is rumored both Jeffery and the organization want a “fresh start”.

Nelson Agholor, the 2015 first-rounder once again failed to take the next step in his NFL career. He is a free agent this offseason and there is little indication that the Philadelphia Eagles have any intention on-resigning him.

Rookie second-round receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside made his debut for the team early in 2019. It was an utter disaster and leaves his future with the organization in doubt. He only caught 45.5 percent of his catches all season, good for 169 yards and one touchdown.

You know it is bad when the team is considering a 40-year old, recently retired quarterback named Josh McCown as a better receiving option than Arcega-Whiteside.

Arcega-Whiteside will play in 2020, but it appeared the team had a hard time finding ways to use him last season. Receivers like Terry McLaurin and Metcalf were drafted after Arcega-Whiteside had phenomenally better seasons that he did. The pressure will be on in 2020 for him to show he has a future with the team.

The Philadelphia Eagles will have no shortage of options this April, with some estimates declaring dozens of receivers will be drafted in the first four rounds. And with 70 wide receiver free agents available according to Spotrac, general manager Roseman has an opportunity to fundamentally change the receiver position in Philadelphia this off-season.

Free Agency: While Cowboys free-agent Amari Cooper is liable to be a bit too rich for Roseman’s blood, there is a receiver who played in Dallas last year the Eagles could be interested in during free agency.

Randall Cobb isn’t the most exciting name in the free-agent market this off-season, but the Philadelphia Eagles should take a look at the veteran slot receiver. He quietly had a solid season in 2019 after leaving the Green Bay Packers last offseason.

Before 2018, Cobb had been one of the more dependable receivers on the Packers roster. He has had four seasons in his NFL career with 800 or more yards in a given season and only one season where he averaged less than 10 yards per reception.

In 2019, Cobb had 828 yards receiving, including 41 first downs and averaged six yards after the catch. While all the hype since 2018 in Dallas has been about the Dak Prescott-to-Cooper connection, Cobb proved to be one of the better receiving options last season.

With Agholor gone in 2020, the Philadelphia Eagles will be needing a new slot receiver this off-season. Cobb would more than make up for Agholor’s absence next season, as Agholor has only had one season with more than 768 yards.

Cobb is not a perfect replacement in Philadelphia. He will be turning 30 this season, which makes the idea of cementing him as the long term solution at slot receiver unlikely. In 2019, Cobb only had two games with 100 or more yards receiving. He also hasn’t had a season since 2015 where he scored more than five touchdowns.

A riskier proposition (with a much higher ceiling) would be Breshad Perriman from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Once thought to have been a bust, Perriman had a good season in 2019, stepping at times during the season.

Perriman had his best season to date in 2019, with six touchdowns, 645 yards on 38 touches. While averaging only 46 yards a game, he also only played in 57 percent of the Buccaneers offensive plays.

Whether that production can be scaled up is anybody’s guess. But Perriman only cost the Buccaneers roughly $4 Million last year and will likely cost the same on his next contract. Contrast that to Agholor, who cost the Philadelphia Eagles $18 Million in cap space in 2019 and only had 363 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Perriman is a bargain by comparison.

2020 NFL Draft: Unless the Philadelphia Eagles wait until the fourth round to draft a wide receiver, they should have plenty of high-end options at wide receiver.

Outside of Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb, the rest of the receiver stock in this year’s draft class should be open to Roseman and the Eagles scouting department.

With head coach Doug Pederson and GM Roseman at this year’s Combine in Indianapolis, they had an opportunity this past Thursday to meet with prospects. If the Philadelphia Eagles decide to move up in the draft for a receiver, they should draft Lamb. He would be the perfect complement to Jackson on the opposite side of the field.

If they choose to stay where they are at number 21, they still have plenty of wide receiver prospects worth drafting. Justin Jefferson from LSU looked exceptional in this year’s Combine, clocking a 4.43 on the 40-yard dash.

What really made Jefferson’s Combine was what he put on film during the drills. Outside of a misstep running the sideline, Jefferson looked perfect during the gauntlet drills. He looked fast, athletic and showed great instincts when receiving the ball.

The Combine film matched what we saw at LSU this season. In 2019, Jefferson broke the single-season reception record for his school, helping take LSU all the way to a National Championship. With 1,540 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, Jefferson looked unstoppable catching passes from Joe Burrow. He led the NCAA in receptions with 111.

There were plenty of receivers at the Combine that could interest the Philadelphia Eagles going forward. Chase Claypool from Notre Dame had a better than expected Combine, showing off his impressive 80-inch wingspan. Laviska Shenault Jr. was potentially nursing an injury during the Combine but showed he still has top speed even when injured.

Assuming the Philadelphia Eagles address the wide receiver position before the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, fans should feel optimistic about their team’s receivers going forward. After all, Jackson will be back in 2020. Arcega-Whiteside will have a chance to earn his keep. And don’t forget Miles Sanders makes a fine receiver if the situation calls for it.

If the Philadelphia Eagles can bring in one good receiver in this year’s draft and have their current unit stay healthy in 2020, Wentz should have plenty of receiving options in 2020.