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2021 NFL Draft: Teams that should consider wide receiver early

By Christopher Thomas

2021 NFL Draft prospects DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
2021 NFL Draft prospects DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia Eagles, 2021 NFL Draft
Philadelphia Eagles (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles were a trainwreck last season. Seemingly every issue going on in the Eagles building last season was exposed. The media hovered around Carson Wentz and his struggles until he got benched. Doug Pederson’s playcalling and decision-making got him fired. Also, the fact that Howie Roseman is a total control freak over what the organization does what exposed during their 4-11-1 season.

The first time the Eagles made headlines during the 2020-21 season came during the draft. Howie Roseman and the Eagles brass made controversial decisions in the early rounds of the draft. In the first round last year the Eagles selected Jalen Reagor out of TCU with the 21st pick despite LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson being available. Reagor seemed like a reach at the time and didn’t perform well his rookie season. While Jefferson set the NFL record for receiving yards by a rookie with 1,400.

Then in the second round, the Eagles selected Jalen Hurts out of Oklahoma. It was rumored that the Eagles decision-makers were split between Hurts and Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn. Hurts started four games for the Eagles at the end of the year. He played well enough for the Eagles to name him as a starter for next season and had some great flashes. But his presence appeared to be the needle that broke the horses back as far as Wentz’s confidence and self-esteem while he was the starter. While in Carolina Chinn established himself as a defensive rookie of the year favorite and potential superstar.

Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles /

Philadelphia Eagles

After last year’s fiasco during the draft, Howie Roseman and the Eagles need to make all the right picks during this year’s draft, especially in the early rounds. Luckily for the Roseman, he will have a lot of great players to choose from early on because he is selecting sixth overall in this year’s draft.  It is very possible for the Eagles to take the best player available at six and still fill a need.

Despite taking Jalen Reagor with the 21st pick last year the Eagles still need a true number one receiver. Already this offseason Philadelphia has let go of Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson. It appears former Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz may be the next one out the door. So the Eagles need another young pass-catcher to add to their young nucleus of players that features Jalen Hurts, Miles Sanders, Jalen Reagor, and Dallas Goedert.

Even if the Eagles aren’t comfortable taking a receiver in the early rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, they can fill their need in the later rounds. The Eagles could use a legitimate playmaker on the outside that could take pressure off Reagor who is more of a complementary receiver. But any receiver that could assert themselves as the true number one Reagor likely isn’t would be a great addition for Philadelphia.

Wide Receiver options for the Philadelphia Eagles from the 2021 NFL Draft:

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