Tight End
2017: Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, Trey Burton, Billy Brown
2019: Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers, Joshua Perkins, Will Tye
This is another tricky one. If not for Dallas Goedert’s 2018 breakout as a truly dominant red-zone weapon, this position would be a clear win for 2017. The Eagles sorely missed 13-personnel groupings due to the injury of Richard Rodgers last year and Joshua Perkins failed to make the most of his opportunities at the start of the year.
On one hand, you have the fact that Dallas Goedert’s 334 yards and 4 touchdowns outshine what Burton brought to the table, but then you have to take into account the way in which the tight ends were used.
In terms of a unit I want to build around, it’s a VERY narrow edge to the 2019 group, given the contractual breathing room of a lethal redzone target in Dallas Goedert…but this is providing Richard Rodgers can develop as an in-line blocker, which has never really been a real strength of his.
Winner: 2019
Wide Receiver
2017: Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Torrey Smith, Mack Hollins, Bryce Treggs, Shelton Gibson, Jordan Matthews (Yes, pre trade remember), Marcus Johnson, Greg Ward Jr, Paul Turner
2019: Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, DeSean Jackson, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Braxton Miller, Greg Ward Jr, Charles Johnson, Mack Hollins, Shelton Gibson
Again, I’ve tried to give both rosters ‘training camp flexibility’ to build the best roster possible and this is another easy win for 2019. DeSean Jackson should theoretically bring more reliability to the WR2 spot than Torrey Smith once did, and the addition of J.J Arcega-Whiteside is exhilarating.
But….one could argue that in this scenario, Agholor hadn’t moved inside yet and Jordan Matthews was coming off an 804 yard season, amassing more yardage from the slot than any receiver since 2014, in his stint with the Eagles.
But Matthews out of the picture post-trade I think the edge goes to 2019 because there’s more to build around. DeSean Jackson on a three-year deal, Sega lining up with Jeffery, Ertz and Goedert inside the red zone, and the chance for some depth excellence from the returning Hollins? Count me in
We know what Agholor can do from the slot now and that trade may have saved a career that was beginning to raise serious question marks. This is a very diverse and complete position and now a 2017 ideology and blows it out of the water.
Winner: 2019
