The Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with multiple former draft picks Wednesday afternoon.
With the release of linebacker Davion Taylor and the trade of wide receiver Jalen Reagor, the Eagles have sunk the cost of a third and first-round selection over the last 12 hours.
Both Taylor and Reagor had their days numbered after mediocre preseason, and filling behind multiple other teammates on the depth chart. While Taylor had dealt with injury over the last year, the Jalen Reagor trade alone offers a major lesson on the use of scouting, scheme fit, and mental health.
Reagor’s time in Philadelphia was filled with controversy. The first-round selection was picked ahead of young phenom Justin Jefferson and struggled with scheme fits, a lack of production, and injuries.
With Reagor’s trade to Minnesota, the need for a WR5 on the depth chart becomes an open slot that needs to be filled. Here are some of the top options the Eagles should consider to replace the first-round pick.
Eagles Practice Squad Stars
The Eagles and their fans have had a great history of practice squad players coming in and producing at an unexpected level.
Britain Covey, Deon Cain, and Devon Allen were all released after solid preseasons but were all brought back to the practice squad on Wednesday.
Does either of the three young weapons have the ability to step in and produce right away? Probably not. However, they come relatively cheap as opposed to Reagor, and won’t need to be schemed for as fifth-string wide receivers.
The pressure won’t be on any of the young players to produce right away in an offense full of top-flight talent. That being said, each receiving option can make a player pay in a one-on-one situation.
Cole Beasley
Jokes aside, Beasley is a dependable slot receiver who could provide some major depth to the team. Beasley is coming off an 80-catch season and has been one of the more dependable route-runners in the game over the last five years.
It’s important to remember that the Eagles don’t need to overpay for a receiver that will be, at best, the fifth option in the offense.
Beasley would come cheaper than he has in years and will provide needed depth for the roster.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Moving away from a veteran choice, Smith-Marsette was just released by the Vikings to make room for Jalen Reagor.
Smith-Marsette was a fifth-round selection out of Iowa and caught five of six targets last season for two touchdowns. The young big-play wide receiver would be a serviceable backup and would be the exact type of player the Eagles would like to have as they continue to get younger.
ISM would be able to learn from DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown in a way that would actually enhance his skillset and may even be a dependable target should the Eagles look to move away from Quez Watkins.
C.J. Board
Philadelphia looks for players that are versatile and can help the team in a myriad of ways. Board fits that bill tremendously.
After just getting cut by the Giants, Board has slot receiver experience, as well as returning experience. Board is an undrafted free agent but could also apply some helpful speed in the back end of the depth chart.
The Eagles likely will decide to call up one of the practice squad players as Allen is a special teams ace, and Britain Covey is a return specialist.
But there are still plenty of other available options should the Eagles look to fill the fifth receiver slot with young talent or veteran players.
AP Photo/Ron Schwane
