Wide Receivers
*#HOWIESZN ALERT*
Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, DeSean Jackson, early round draft pick, Mack Hollins, Shelton Gibson
Alshon Jeffery will be an Eagle for the rest of his career. His contract runs through 2021, his age 31 season, and don’t be surprised if he continues to sign small extensions until he retires.
Nelson Agholor has been the subject of uncertainty this offseason as many people are questioning his $9 million cap hit. Take a look at his response at a reporter doing such questioning:
https://twitter.com/nelsonagholor/status/1104126110856441856
I believe the Eagles and Agholor find a way to restructure his contract so the young wide receiver can continue to build on his slow starting career.
Reports emerged early Monday morning that the Buccaneers are shopping wide receiver DeSean Jackson and that the Eagles are his preferred destination. Currently fourth on the Eagles’ all-time receiving yards list, it makes all the sense in the world for the Eagles to trade for Jackson.
UPDATE: Obviously the trade went down before this published, but I’m keeping this here to remind myself that I was correct.
The Eagles are in dire need of a speed receiver and Jackson still has that trait, leading the entire league in 2018 with 18.9 yards per reception. Also, you cannot tell me you don’t want to see this again:
Although Jackson would be a welcome addition, the Eagles do need to spend some draft capital on a young wide receiver that can make an immediate impact, but doesn’t need to be THE guy yet. Spending one of their second round picks on a receiver (Deebo Samuel, Parris Campbell) would meet that criteria and allow the rookie to learn from some of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
Mack Hollins is coming off a groin injury that sidelined him all of 2018. Once healed, he will provide solid depth behind the starters and hopefully develop into the deep threat we’ve all been waiting to see from him. (He’ll also have to give up that #10 once Jackson arrives).
Shelton Gibson set preseason on fire in 2018, finishing second in the league with 195 yards receiving. However, his regular season was filled with all of one catch for 48 yards despite appearing in 15 games. He’s supremely talented and can help out in the return game, let’s just hope he gets put into the game plan more often.
Tight Ends
Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Will Tye
No surprises here for the most part. Record setting tight end, upcoming star tight end, and a guy who didn’t play in 2018 but showed promise in his two years with the Giants in 2015 and 2016. Don’t be surprised if the Eagles draft a tight end to stash on practice squad.
Offensive Line
Jason Peters, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Matt Pryor, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, mid-round draft pick
Peters restructured his deal WITH A PAY CUT. Seumalo and Kelce both signed extensions. Brooks is recovering from an Achilles injury but the declined option on Stefen Wisniewski suggests Brooks is progressing well. Lane Johnson is another “Eagle for Life”. Pryor and Vaitai serve as serviceable backups. I also expect the Eagles to spend a mid-round pick on a lineman.
Jordan Mailata showed a lot of promise during preseason, but he did not appear in a regular season game. Transitioning from rugby, there was little hope that he would even make the roster. But his progress bodes well for his status on this roster and could quite possibly be the left tackle of the future.
