Greg Ward Jr., JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Deontay Burnett and Robert Davis. This group was the most recent in-game wide receiver corp for the Eagles. This is the group rolled out to take on the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The depleted group combined for 46 catches for 517 yards and two touchdowns in the 2019 season including the postseason.
This should go without saying, but that’s unacceptable for a wide receiver room. The issues go beyond the above four receivers – Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor disappointed before having their season end early due to injuries and DeSean Jackson looked excellent before having his season cut short, too. The bottom line is injuries ravaged the wide receiver room and the next group of men up struggled to get the job done.
You don’t need to have your finger on the pulse of the team to know that wide receiver is the biggest need for the Birds this offseason. Entering next season with an older DeSean Jackson, an unproven JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward simply isn’t enough. Not to mention an aging Alshon Jeffery, if he returns at all.
When it comes to remedying the wide receiver woes there are two avenues: free agency and the draft. Eagles Wire contributor Jeremy Klump wrote about free-agent additions here. While managing editor Glenn Erby penned six takeaways from the receivers’ workouts at the annual combine.
The likely solution? The Eagles’ brass puts their hand in both pots and add a veteran on the cheap while trying to find the next big thing at wide receiver in the draft.
This begs the question, what should the Eagles do with the 21st pick in the draft? The three biggest names in the draft are CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs III. All three playmakers will likely be off the board before the birds pick – they might even be off the board before pick 15.
The next group of wideouts consists of Justin Jefferson, Denzel Mims, KJ Hamler, Jalen Reagor, Tee Higgins, Brandon Aiyuk, Laviska Shenault, and Donovan Peoples-Jones. All of whom have late first or second-round value.
Now we as Eagles fans enter “Would you rather?” territory. Would you rather trade up to nab one of Lamb, Jeudy, or Ruggs or stay put and nab one of the next group?
Before you blurt out your answer, some background information could be helpful. Last year the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to pick number 10 from pick 20 to draft linebacker Devin Bush. The cost was the 20th pick, the 52nd overall pick, and a 2020 third-rounder. The precedent to move up approximately 10 picks has been set.
With 10 picks in this year’s draft, including 7 in the top 150, the Eagles have plenty of ammunition to move up if they so choose.
If you ask me “would you rather trade up to draft one of Lamb, Jeudy or Ruggs or see how the board plays out and go from there?” I would do the deal in a heartbeat.
Why? You ask. Because surrounding Carson Wentz with weapons is the team’s number one priority. Identify which receiver would fit best in the offense, whether it’s Ruggs’ elite deep speed, Jeudy’s crafty route running or Lamb’s overall electric style of play, getting Wentz an alpha dog on the outside is of the utmost importance.
If that’s not enough reason: There’s no way the Eagles use all 10 picks in this year’s draft. That said, you might as well get the guy you want instead of staying put and hoping someone falls into your lap, right?
Knowing what we know about Pittsburgh’s trade last year, it’s safe to assume it would cost the Birds pick 21, pick 53, and a sweetener (whether it be a 2021 pick or pick 103 this year) to make the move into the top 8-15. Sure, losing pick 53 is less than ideal, but with two third-round picks and three fourth-round picks thanks to Howie Roseman’s manipulation of the compensatory pick formula the Eagles could maneuver their way back into the ’60s if they so choose.
At the end of the day, the Eagles are going to draft at least one wide receiver in this year’s draft. Whether it comes by way of trade up for one of the top three, sticking at 21 and taking the best of the rest or trading down to gain even more draft capital and taking whoever’s available in the late 20’s-the early ’30s, a new wide receiver will suit up for the Eagles this season and it appears they can’t go wrong with how deep the 2020 class is.
So now I ask: Would you rather trade up to get one of Jeudy, Ruggs III or Lamb, or stay put and target someone like Jefferson, Mims or the best of the rest?
Time’s yours.