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The Smartest Pick the Eagles Made in the 2020 NFL Draft

By Joe Birdsall

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson should be thrilled with the team's new additions to the receiving corps.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson should be thrilled with the team's new additions to the receiving corps. / Michael Hickey/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Eagles had an up-and-down season in 2019, largely due to a slew of injuries at the wide receiver position. Starting wideouts Alshon Jeffrey, DeSean Jackson, and Nelson Agholor all missed significant time, but quarterback Carson Wentz still led the team to an unlikely playoff berth, beating out the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East title.

However, the fact that the Eagles made the playoffs with Greg Ward Jr., a former quarterback, as their top wide receiver clearly concerned the front office, which selected three wideouts in the 2020 NFL Draft. Out of the three, first-round pick Jalen Reagor should play the most prominent role, and legendary wideout Chad Johnson likes his chances to have a big rookie year.

While some considered Reagor a reach at No. 21 overall with LSU receiver Justin Jefferson still on the board, he is a seamless fit in head coach Doug Pederson's offense, with the speed to stretch the field.

It appears that veteran wideout DeSean Jackson will mentor Reagor early on, and with the Eagles legend struggling to stay on the field in recent years, Reagor replicating Jackson's vertical ability could help the Eagles better withstand some of the maladies that plagued them in 2019.

With the much-maligned Agholor gone, Reagor should immediately be one of the team's top three wide receivers. Additionally, after recent reports that Alshon Jeffrey still has no timetable to return, Pederson may have to rely on Jackson to play other positions out wide, potentially throwing Reagor into the fire in the season's opening weeks.

After running a somewhat disappointing 4.47 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Reagor clocked in at 4.22, at TCU's pro day, showcasing some of the speed that caught Philadelphia's attention.

For most Eagles fans, a lack of wide receiver depth was the most frustrating aspect of the team's 2019 postseason push. With a young speedster like Reagor in the fold, a talented Philadelphia roster is now better suited to endure injuries at the position, even if their first-round pick does not contribute right away.