Drafting a WR to replace DeSean
Now that he's got his coaching staff in place, the top item on Andy Reid's to-do list is deciding what to do about DeSean Jackson.
Drafting a WR to replace DeSean
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Now that he's got his coaching staff in place, the top item on Andy Reid's to-do list is deciding what to do about DeSean Jackson.
I wrote about Jackson's place in the wide receiver market last week. I maintain that the Eagles' best option is to work out a long-term agreement with him, unless Jackson is being completely unreasonable with his demands.
But if they decide that's not going to happen, the next logical step is to look at free agents (guys like Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, and Marques Colston could be available).
Another option for the Eagles, if they choose to part ways with Jackson, is to draft a wide receiver.
A recent mock draft by Evan Silva and Josh Norris of Rotoworld.com has the Eagles taking Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright with the 15th pick:
The Eagles figure to look elsewhere if they re-sign free agent DeSean Jackson, but there are no guarantees after D-Jax's petulance caused in-season turmoil and his production sagged. Wright is a more versatile wideout than Jackson, having excelled both from the slot and out wide. With a 42-inch vertical and 4.3 speed, Wright is also the premier deep threat in this year's receiver class.
NFL.com's Mike Mayock has Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, Baylor's Wright, South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery and Wake Forest's Chris Givens as his top-five wide receiver prospects.
But would any of those players be able to contribute immediately in the Eagles' offense?
Jackson, a second-round pick, had 62 catches for 912 yards as a rookie back in 2008. Jeremy Maclin had 55 catches for 762 yards in 2009.
Here's a chart of how first-round picks at wide receiver have fared in the past five seasons:
| Catches | Yards | TDs | |
| A.J. Green (4th, 2011) | 65 |
1,057 |
7 |
| Julio Jones (6th, 2011) | 54 |
959 |
8 |
| Jonathan Baldwin (26th, 2011) | 21 |
254 |
1 |
| Demaryius Thomas (22nd, 2010) | 22 |
283 |
2 |
| Dez Bryant (24th, 2010) | 45 |
561 |
6 |
| Darrius Heyward-Bey (7th, 2009) | 9 |
124 |
1 |
| Michael Crabtree (10th, 2009) | 48 |
625 |
2 |
| Jeremy Maclin (19th, 2009) | 55 |
762 |
4 |
| Percy Harvin (22nd, 2009) | 60 |
790 |
6 |
| Hakeem Nicks (29th, 2009) | 47 |
790 |
6 |
| Kenny Britt (30th, 2009) | 42 | 701 |
3 |
| Calvin Johnson (2nd, 2007) | 48 | 756 | 4 |
| Ted Ginn (9th, 2007) | 34 | 420 | 2 |
| Dwayne Bowe (23rd, 2007) | 70 | 995 | 5 |
| Robert Meachem (27th, 2007) | 12 | 289 | 3 |
| Craig Davis (30th, 2007) | 20 | 188 | 1 |
| Anthony Gonzalez (32nd, 2007) | 37 | 576 | 3 |
As you can see, there have been varying degrees of success among first-round wide receivers. Injuries, quarterback play and coaching all must be taken into account, but of the 17 wide receivers drafted in the first round since 2007, only one has had a 1,000-yard season as a rookie (Green).
Others - Bowe, Johnson, Britt, Nicks, Harvin, Maclin, Jones - were solid as rookies.
Jackson has averaged 1,061 yards per season since 2009. In other words, it's unlikely that the Eagles find a receiver in the draft to match that kind of production right away.
The 15-day period for using the franchise tag begins less than two weeks from today on Feb. 20. If the Eagles choose not to tag Jackson, and if they can't agree to terms on a long-term contract, he would become an unrestricted free agent on March 13.
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The offense is producing with Jackson, Vick an company. The problem last year was keeping Vick off of his back and him trying to make a play when no play were there to be made off the scramble for his health. After a year with the same offensive line and coaching he should go back to being what he was in 2010. If the Defense can protect a lead after the first half of football and Vick doesnt think he has to be the be all that he had to be most of his career the Eagles should be in good shape. Jackson has more pros than cons and just because he doesnt want to play for 600k when his production dictates he deserves a better contract doesnt mean he should be thrown to the side and disregarded. The Eagles should give him a contract that is respectable in conjunction with his production and overall importance to the game. There isnt another player that can do what he does in the league. Regardless of how you feel about him personally he is a important part of the Eagles production. Sign him, do a whole year of camps and the Eagles are a superbowl caliber team.— Zeru- Let's not get ahead of ourselves guys. You just don't trade a 25 year old, 2 time Pro Bowler at 2 different positions (WR,PR). If you get rid of him a huge element of the team is gone. Wright is the best WR in the draft and will probably be the best player available at #15, but he can't replace DeShawn. They will work a decent contract out with Jackson, but I say draft Wright anyway. When the Eagles go 4 wide with Jackson, Maclin, Wright and Avant it would be ridiculous!— MrMiles1
- Stop with the receivers needing 3 years in Andy's system to be productive. Stop being a lemming for WIP. Victor Cruz is in what his his 2nd his year first as starter? The guy has a SB ring already. The only way the Eagles draft an offense skill players is if RG3 is still on the board. Other than that they need play-makers on DEFENSE.......— delcodanno
- OK, everyone is saying they should tag Jackson and trade him. Considering the rookie crop and the FA's out there, who exactly would trade for him and what would you get in return, realistically? Let him hit the market, and when he doesn't get nearly what he thinks he'll get, slighly overpay him for a year or two. Paying him top 5 money when he's not even a top 10 receiver is bad business.— beegal99
- I don't see how you don't re-sign a WR who demands double teams p when he runs streaks and opens things up for McCoy and Celek and Maclin and Avant to work underneath. DJax might often be a decoy, but he's a really really dangerous one, especially with Vick's arm strength.— Leegles
- WMR, I really fear this draft like no other. I have ZERO confidence in Howie to do the right thing. I just don't get the bargain basement approach where you bypass studs to get to the stiffs. Why maximize picks at the bottom of of the draft and then give up picks at the top to move up [like with Graham]? With the picks they have PLUS anything they can get for Asante/DJax this draft will effect the team for years. There has been no proof that they have the ability to pick talent. For the last few drafts...so many picks/so little impact...that's what I keep coming back to. Can't figure the sign and trade for DJax either. Who will pay top dollar for him AND give us a decent pick to boot? Would be nice, but I can't see it. And if they let Jenkins leave...bye bye LB.— tpizza
- Desean Jackson will not be here next year. either thru franchise/trade or FA the eagles will not pay him what he wants and that piece of shite rosenhouse will only make matters worse. the smart thing would be to frachise him and trade up in the draft.
- if Jackson walks they better get Bowe. He is bigger, stronger,smarter and he is not that slow.— urbnasty
- Why are we talking about replacing DJackson---we lucked up with Maclin and Djack--before those two our talent scouts didnt know how to pick quality Wide recievers-So I would say-the eagles dont want djack--then please get something for him-lets not just let him go like we did with bdawk an akers-lets get some proven linebackers and safeties---or draft a fast but good route runner wide reciever out of college--But then again if Vincent Jackson is available please-please grab him-just as long he is injury free.— phillyboymike7
Quit messing around and re-sign Jackson then find some people who can tackle (linebackers), then block. If Manning turns his head too fast it could end his career. Great QB but moving forward the gamble is too much as his price tag.— bigcityballer
We could have won a super bowl with McNabb. It was Andy's call to throw the ball 50 times. Had Andy utilized his RB, Brian Westbrook, on the ground more that would have won the game. 50 pass plays and less than 10 running plays won't and didn't win a super bowl.
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