The Philadelphia Eagles will have some salary cap issues to resolve over the next few seasons and the team will need to draft well in hopes of not wasting Carson Wentz’s prime years.
The key to the retool will be continuing to solidify the offensive line while surrounding Carson Wentz with big-time playmakers on the outside.
Howie Roseman started the process in April, selecting three receivers, and trading for another during the 2020 NFL Draft. First-round pick Jalen Reagor is expected to make an immediate impact, while late-round selections John Hightower and Quez Watkins should add speed to the roster.
Marquise Goodwin acquired in a trade with the 49ers, will try to stay healthy and will only be a one-year rental.
For Roseman and the Eagles, the 2021 draft will provide an efficient opportunity to properly move on from DeSean Jackson, who turns 34 in December. Alshon Jeffery is recovering from foot surgery and may not be ready for the start of the season, which will probably be his final in Philadelphia.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside failed to meet expectations as a rookie and could be battling for his Eagles career this season.
The Eagles could and should be in the market for a wide receiver heading into next year’s draft and the 2021 selection process could be more historic than the 2020 class that saw six receivers go in the first round.
With the Eagles being focused on the future, cutting costs while getting younger and cheaper, here are 10 wide receivers Philadelphia could have interest in during the next years 2021 NFL Draft.
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1. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU (6-1, 200)
The best wide receiver in college football last season didn’t even enter the NFL Draft and he’ll return to Baton Rouge for one more impressive season.
Chase had a monster sophomore year, leading the LSU offense in receiving yards (1,780), receiving touchdowns (20) and yards per catch (21.2) and he’ll likely be gone before the Eagles pick.
2. Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota (6-2, 210)
A stud in 2019, Bateman had had 60 receptions for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore, averaging 20.3 yards per catch.
In a 31-26 Minnesota win over Penn State, Bateman went for 203 yards. A physical specimen in the mold of Alshon Jeffery, Bateman has very good hands and the ability to pick up yardage after the catch.
3. Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson (6-4, 205)
With the Eagles choosing Jalen Reagor in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Ross could provide the Eagles with a big-bodied replacement for Alshon Jeffery.
After watching teammate Tee Higgins take his talents to the NFL, Ross is Trevor Lawrence’s No. 1 target at Clemson. As a freshman, Ross had 46 catches for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns on Clemson’s 2018 national championship team. Last season Ross 66 catches for 865 yards and 8 touchdowns.
4. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama (5-10, 180)
The Philadelphia Eagles will have another year to scout a speedy, diminutive wide receiver from Alabama.
With Henry Ruggs off to the Raiders, Waddle will assume the big play roles.
Waddle strikes big on offense and in the return game as well. Last season Waddle returned a kick and a punt for a touchdown and racked up 33 catches for 560 yards and six touchdowns as the Crimson Tide’s No. 4 receiver behind Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith, and Ruggs.
5. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (6-1, 180)
Following in the footsteps of so many at Alabama, Smith will now reign supreme as WR No. 1.
Last season while playing alongside Jeudy and Ruggs, Smith led Alabama with 1,256 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior, and his 68 catches were second on the team behind Jeudy.
Smith’s numbers could drop off with Mac Jones taking over at Alabama.
6. Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
An explosive player, Oklahoma State’s All-American wide receiver Tylan Wallace could be a player of interest for the Eagles next spring.
A Biletnikoff Award nominee, Wallace suffered a torn ACL last October, and rather than jumping to the NFL, where he was a projected Day Two pick prior to the injury, he opted to return to OSU for another season.
7. Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
A 5-foot-9 dynamo, Moore committed to Purdue during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl after changing his mind about Texas.
Moore recorded 1,164 receiving yards and 203 rushing yards to go along with thirteen combined touchdowns. Moore’s 2,048 all-purpose yards were the most since Dorien Bryant recorded 2,121 in 2007, and the second-most in Purdue history.
Moore only played in four games last season but is still projected to be a first-round pick.
8. Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
An electric athlete out of Miami Northwestern High School, Atwell dominated the ACC putting up monster numbers for the Cardinals. The former quarterback finished with 12 touchdowns and just under 1,300 yards as a sophomore.
Atwell flourishes at turning the bubble or short screen into huge production and he can still separate downfield at a very high level. In 2019, Atwell had 21 targets that came 10 or more yards downfield in which he was deemed open (more than a couple of steps of separation) — among the 20 most in college football.
9. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
Coming a family of stud football players, St. Brown attended famed Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.
A five-star recruit, St. Brown committed to the University of Southern California (USC) to play college football with former high school teammate JT Daniels.
The junior wide receiver started 12 of the 13 games last season, catching 77 passes for 1,042 yards and six touchdowns. He’ll be one of the top wideouts in college football next season.
10. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Next in the line of great Ohio State wide receivers, Olave went from 3-star receiver to stud Big-10 star. After putting up big numbers alongside K.J. Hill in 2019, the spotlight will shine on Olave in 2020.
Last season Olave finished the year with 48 catches for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns and his Ohio State pedigree makes him a must scout for teams looking for sure-fire talent on the outside.
