Philadelphia Eagles 2020 NFL Draft: Final Grades, Analysis and Context

Grade: A-

The rumor going into the 2020 NFL Draft had Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles attempting to trade up in the first round, ostensibly to draft a top-three receiver. While wide receiver was the expected target in the first round this year, the organization has a history of prioritizing the trenches in the first round, making some doubt they would pull the trigger on a skill position player. Roseman has only once drafted a non-lineman in the first round before this year.

This year Roseman broke the cycle, drafting TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor at 21 overall. Reagor is the type of receiver this offense has been missing in recent years. In the last two seasons, the team has lost their expected deep threat receiver in the early days of the regular season, losing Mike Wallace in 2018 and DeSean Jackson in 2019.

Reagor is that type of vertical threat, outside wide receiver that can take the lid off a defense. His 4.47 40-yard dash at this year’s Combine showed what scouts already saw on tape: Reagor is really fast. With a 42 inch vertical jump and a solid college career on his resume, Reagor was bound to be one of the top five wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft.

His 2019 stats are a little deflated, but that is due more to a problem at the quarterback position than on Reagor regressing. In three seasons, Reagor racked up 22 touchdowns, 2,248 receiving yards, averaging 15.2 yards per reception according to Sports Reference. At 5-foot-11, 206-pounds, Reagor is solid enough to survive contact in the NFL, while also elusive enough on double moves to confuse defensive backs. Considering the regression and injuries of Philadelphia wide receivers in recent years, Roseman better make sure they wrap Reagor in bubble wrap before he gets to Philadelphia.

The draft pick itself only gets an A-minus because there was some real quality, can’t-miss wide receivers in this year’s first round. Considering the team had three-fourth round picks, it seems odd the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t consider moving up for one of the much-lauded “top three receivers”. The first wide receiver went nine picks before Roseman drafted; would it have killed Roseman to part with one of those fourth-rounders for one of the top three receivers?

Remember, the Green Bay Packers used a fourth-rounder to move up four picks in this year’s first round. Perhaps Roseman wasn’t able to get the same deal. But four picks before the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Reagor the Dallas Cowboys drafted CeeDee Lamb. A player who during the exact same period as Reagor got 10 more touchdowns, 1,000 more receiving yards, and averaged 19 yards per reception. That discrepancy between Reagor and Lamb is nothing to scoff at. Especially considering he went to an NFC East rival, the two players’ careers will forever be compared to the others.

And while Reagor is exceptionally talented, Eagles fans would feel a lot more comfortable with a big name like Lamb playing wideout this season. Only time will tell which team got the better receiver. But for now, Roseman has fixed the biggest need on the entire roster. We can all celebrate that.