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Rey
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I think in the one game where DeSean Jackson was 100% healthy last season the Eagles brass saw what life could be like if Carson Wentz had that option in the game plan on a regular basis. I think they decided after the season that they were not going to have Wentz go through another season with a lack of big play threats. The Birds have faith that JJ Arcega Whiteside will take a step forward year two as a possession guy / Red Zone threat and that Greg Ward will continue to improve as their slot guy. So you have a possession guy, a slot possession guy, 2 great TE's and a solid running game … so what's left? Outside speed …
I think their plan going into the draft was to snag either one of the top 3 receivers via trade up “if” price was right “or” Jalen Reagor at 21. When Lamb fell to 16 they tried to trade up, but the asking price was a 2nd rounder so they passed with the thinking that Reagor would likely be there at 21 which he was. Once Reagor was in tow, I think the plan shifted to Marquise Goodwin via trade as the next piece … they just needed to find the right time to swing the trade (which they eventually did). I think what they did not anticipate was that two receivers who fit the outside speed they were looking for (aside from Reagor) fell right into their laps in back to back later rounds. See, I think what the Eagles had in mind was to rotate Reagor, a healthy Djax and Goodwin to make sure we always had at least one healthy speed option available for Wentz. The draft broke their way however and they got two big play guys I don't think they ever imagined would drop that far. With so much depth at the WR position in this year's class combined with teams needing to address other positions ... allowed John Hightower and Quez Watkins, two big play speed receivers, to drop right into the Eagles lap in the 5th and 6th rounds. So now, the Eagles went from having no speed to having the “good” problem of having too many options.
Let's look at these guys on an individual basis:
# 1 DeSean Jackson – We're going to ride out Jackson till the end for his speed. He showed last season he still has plenty of turbo left to go deep and has become a very good route runner later in his career. The question with him will always be … how many games will we get out of him? If we can get 10 regular season games out of Jackson we should see good results. These young guys are all going to look up to him and unlike early in his career, I think he'll be up to the task. I have a feeling DeSean is going to be up to the challenge and have a really good 2020. He's going to be used in both the slot and outside depending on match ups.
# 2 Jalen Reagor – Reagor is going to line up mostly on the outside as your go deep guy, but he's also going to be used a ton on WR screens, end arounds, sweeps and trick plays. His run after the catch explosiveness will be considered as the Eagles draw up plays for him. As long as DJAX remains healthy, Wentz is going to have a lot of fun with a potential big play on every play where both Reagor and Jackson are together on the field.
# 3 JJ Arcega Whiteside – I'm going to give JJ a bit of a pass for his rookie season as the Eagles cross trained him on all WR positions instead of having him just focus on one. I'm “hoping in year two they try to sharpen his skills on just one position which is likely going to be the Alshon Jeffery role. He fits best as a 3rd down and Red Zone player where he thrived at Stanford. With many receivers you see a huge difference year two and that's what we need to see from JJAW. The leash won't be too long though with so many options this year. He needs to show off the jump that he knows the playbook and is ready for a big role.
# 4 Marquise Goodwin – This dude may absolutely thrive with Wentz if he can find a way to stay healthy. I watched some film when he was with the Niners and everyone over there kept under throwing him. Time and time again he had college separation deep and he would have to slow down and compete for a contested ball. His speed is evident and at 29 he still has a couple of years left of prime wheels. A 3 WR set of Jackson, Reagor and Goodwin along with either Ertz or Goedert working the middle will be very tuff to stop. The key however, just like Djax, will be in staying away from injury. I think the Eagles will use him sparingly behind Jackson and Reagor to keep those guys fresh. The Eagles re-did his contract where he will be a free agent in 2021 in exchange for cutting his 2020 salary … so Goodwin has a world of incentive to have a big year and hit free agency in 2021.
# 5 Greg Ward – Ward did a really nice job for us when we needed him and he'll keep a role in the slot this year as well to a certain extent. I do think that this year the Birds will use several players in the slot depending on match-ups. Ward does not have outside type speed or explosion, so unless a lot of things go wrong, he's not going to be counted on as much as he was down the stretch in 2019. I think under regular off season circumstances he would get challenged in the slot by rookie Quez Watkins, but with a likely shortened camp/preseason, I think Ward will keep his role due to knowing that slot playbook.
# 6 John Hightower – Hightower is a silky smooth, easy gliding, fast, outside threat. He can afford to gain 5-8 lbs of muscle to help him with the pro game, but the Eagles won't ask him to be an every down guy year 1. He'll be worked in here and there, but his role year one will be to learn and be ready to contribute should we suffer a bunch of injuries. His future is bright though and I think the Eagles stole a good one in Rd 5. I highly doubt the Eagles will expose him to the practice squad, but he'll probably be on the not dressed list on most weeks.
# 7 Quez Watkins – This is the biggest wild card of the Eagles receivers. A true burner, but also a receiver who's an excellent hands catcher and works the middle of the field very well. His biggest question mark is his level of competition and being able to run a pro route tree. He is a dark horse to end up as the Eagles primary slot receiver if he shows he can handle the physical part of being an NFL receiver. A shortened preseason will go against him as he has less chance to learn the playbook and impress. He's a likely candidate for the practice squad, but if any one of the guys above him gets hurt prior to the season, he's likely to make the team.
PUP List Alshon Jeffery – Anything is possible with Alshon. I think he may get traded eventually for a late round pick in the 2021 draft. He may still get released or he may just stick and start the year on the PUP list. I'm not counting on Alshon one way or the other. I think best case “realistic” scenario is that he gets healthy late and we bring him back for the stretch run as a Red Zone role player.
I think their plan going into the draft was to snag either one of the top 3 receivers via trade up “if” price was right “or” Jalen Reagor at 21. When Lamb fell to 16 they tried to trade up, but the asking price was a 2nd rounder so they passed with the thinking that Reagor would likely be there at 21 which he was. Once Reagor was in tow, I think the plan shifted to Marquise Goodwin via trade as the next piece … they just needed to find the right time to swing the trade (which they eventually did). I think what they did not anticipate was that two receivers who fit the outside speed they were looking for (aside from Reagor) fell right into their laps in back to back later rounds. See, I think what the Eagles had in mind was to rotate Reagor, a healthy Djax and Goodwin to make sure we always had at least one healthy speed option available for Wentz. The draft broke their way however and they got two big play guys I don't think they ever imagined would drop that far. With so much depth at the WR position in this year's class combined with teams needing to address other positions ... allowed John Hightower and Quez Watkins, two big play speed receivers, to drop right into the Eagles lap in the 5th and 6th rounds. So now, the Eagles went from having no speed to having the “good” problem of having too many options.
Let's look at these guys on an individual basis:
# 1 DeSean Jackson – We're going to ride out Jackson till the end for his speed. He showed last season he still has plenty of turbo left to go deep and has become a very good route runner later in his career. The question with him will always be … how many games will we get out of him? If we can get 10 regular season games out of Jackson we should see good results. These young guys are all going to look up to him and unlike early in his career, I think he'll be up to the task. I have a feeling DeSean is going to be up to the challenge and have a really good 2020. He's going to be used in both the slot and outside depending on match ups.
# 2 Jalen Reagor – Reagor is going to line up mostly on the outside as your go deep guy, but he's also going to be used a ton on WR screens, end arounds, sweeps and trick plays. His run after the catch explosiveness will be considered as the Eagles draw up plays for him. As long as DJAX remains healthy, Wentz is going to have a lot of fun with a potential big play on every play where both Reagor and Jackson are together on the field.
# 3 JJ Arcega Whiteside – I'm going to give JJ a bit of a pass for his rookie season as the Eagles cross trained him on all WR positions instead of having him just focus on one. I'm “hoping in year two they try to sharpen his skills on just one position which is likely going to be the Alshon Jeffery role. He fits best as a 3rd down and Red Zone player where he thrived at Stanford. With many receivers you see a huge difference year two and that's what we need to see from JJAW. The leash won't be too long though with so many options this year. He needs to show off the jump that he knows the playbook and is ready for a big role.
# 4 Marquise Goodwin – This dude may absolutely thrive with Wentz if he can find a way to stay healthy. I watched some film when he was with the Niners and everyone over there kept under throwing him. Time and time again he had college separation deep and he would have to slow down and compete for a contested ball. His speed is evident and at 29 he still has a couple of years left of prime wheels. A 3 WR set of Jackson, Reagor and Goodwin along with either Ertz or Goedert working the middle will be very tuff to stop. The key however, just like Djax, will be in staying away from injury. I think the Eagles will use him sparingly behind Jackson and Reagor to keep those guys fresh. The Eagles re-did his contract where he will be a free agent in 2021 in exchange for cutting his 2020 salary … so Goodwin has a world of incentive to have a big year and hit free agency in 2021.
# 5 Greg Ward – Ward did a really nice job for us when we needed him and he'll keep a role in the slot this year as well to a certain extent. I do think that this year the Birds will use several players in the slot depending on match-ups. Ward does not have outside type speed or explosion, so unless a lot of things go wrong, he's not going to be counted on as much as he was down the stretch in 2019. I think under regular off season circumstances he would get challenged in the slot by rookie Quez Watkins, but with a likely shortened camp/preseason, I think Ward will keep his role due to knowing that slot playbook.
# 6 John Hightower – Hightower is a silky smooth, easy gliding, fast, outside threat. He can afford to gain 5-8 lbs of muscle to help him with the pro game, but the Eagles won't ask him to be an every down guy year 1. He'll be worked in here and there, but his role year one will be to learn and be ready to contribute should we suffer a bunch of injuries. His future is bright though and I think the Eagles stole a good one in Rd 5. I highly doubt the Eagles will expose him to the practice squad, but he'll probably be on the not dressed list on most weeks.
# 7 Quez Watkins – This is the biggest wild card of the Eagles receivers. A true burner, but also a receiver who's an excellent hands catcher and works the middle of the field very well. His biggest question mark is his level of competition and being able to run a pro route tree. He is a dark horse to end up as the Eagles primary slot receiver if he shows he can handle the physical part of being an NFL receiver. A shortened preseason will go against him as he has less chance to learn the playbook and impress. He's a likely candidate for the practice squad, but if any one of the guys above him gets hurt prior to the season, he's likely to make the team.
PUP List Alshon Jeffery – Anything is possible with Alshon. I think he may get traded eventually for a late round pick in the 2021 draft. He may still get released or he may just stick and start the year on the PUP list. I'm not counting on Alshon one way or the other. I think best case “realistic” scenario is that he gets healthy late and we bring him back for the stretch run as a Red Zone role player.
