The second stop on our journey through free agent targets takes us to the offensive side of the ball and more specifically, wide receiver.
https://phillysportsnetwork.com/2020/01/30/five-free-agent-cornerbacks-the-eagles-should-target/
We know the Eagles have a pressing need for speed heading into the offseason, but with such a deep draft class on the horizon and a positional salary cap situation that needs to be managed diligently, just how high up the free agency ladder will the Eagles be looking to climb?
Here are five targets to keep an eye on.
Honorable mentions:
Amari Cooper
The priciest receiver set to enter the free agency pool, Eagles fans know all too well the caliber of player being discussed. Just seconds after he arrived in Dallas, Cooper elevated the offense almost instantly, going on to put up 725 yards and 6 touchdowns. However, through weeks 15-17, he seemed to cool off, and that was a theme that continued into 2019.
With a full offseason working with Dak under his belt, Cooper put up career-highs in every relevant category, bursting out of the gate with 4 touchdowns in as many games.
But then there was the opposite side of the coin. From injuries and effort questions to the disappearance against New England, and the fact that he failed to reach 100 yards in any all of his final seven games, pointed a little more towards inconsistency.
Cooper is an electric threat, but the Eagles already host substantial investment at the position and it's hard to imagine them shifting Alshon (and his minimum $16M cap hit), or DeSean Jackson ($8.6M) just to make room for another extortionate WR contract.
Kendrick Bourne
I love Kendrick Bourne. The former UDFA only tallied 358 receiving yards on the year (thanks Emmanuel Sanders), but played a huge role down the stretch. He may have struggled with drops, but he has impressive speed for his 6'1, 190 lbs, frame, and was often lethal in red-zone situations.
The problem is, he's a restricted free agent, meaning the Niners will likely place an original-round tender on him, all but making this signing a pipedream.
The top 5:
Phillip Dorsett
It's easy to look at Dorsett's career trajectory and be disappointed. After he was shot out of a cannon to New England in the trade that sent Jacoby Brissett to Indy, he struggled to carve out a role. His targets dropped from 60 to just 18 and while he's been on the incline ever since, it's clearly not worked out the way New England envisioned.
However, he's still only 27-years old and is coming off his best season since his last as a Colt. Dorsett may be inconsistent, but he consistently flashes a quick release, impressive catch radius, and elite speed.
He'd likely be a cheap replacement for Nelson Agholor in the slot and the Eagles should have interest, but whether they'll pull the trigger on someone who has had issues with drops, and can struggle to create separation through the stem, is a different question altogether.
If the Eagles want a player that can bring nothing but speed, speed, and more speed to the table, Dorsett is the budget option who is also viable on sweeps and reverses, something they had Agholor doing a lot of last year.
Robby Anderson
We all know the Eagles have a crush on Robby Anderson and it really isn't hard to see why. The Temple product has developed into one of the best deep threats in the NFL, having just put together a season where he caught 52 passes for 779 yards and 5 touchdowns.
It's hard not to fall in love with a player that has such a violent release. He surges off the line of scrimmage and can create separation with crisp cuts. But it's what he does after tracking the ball that's most impressive. His YAC ability is second to none and when the afterburners go on, look out.
He's likely going to want a big-time payday, and whether or not the Eagles pay him or not depends on how they'll aim to use him. It makes little sense to bring in a speedster WR2 when you have one in DeSean Jackson. Sure, DJax may have durability concerns, but you don't pay $10M+ for a rotational insurance policy. If Anderson signs, it's with the intent of moving outside after a year in the slot, replacing Jackson or cutting to the chase right away.
Breshad Perriman
A former first-round pick, Perriman exploded back into life during the second half of 2019, showcasing what was once scintillating speed for someone who stands at 6'2, 215 lbs.
In 2019, he caught 36 passes for 645 yards and 6 scores, setting the stage for a second chapter in his NFL career, and a reason to look at the film.
After battling drops in college and a myriad of setbacks with Baltimore and Cleveland, he's had zero drops on catchable passes over the last two years...which is really impressive. Perriman has become a really strong pair of hands, especially in contested situations. He high-points the ball really well and adjusts to its flight path accordingly (UnLiKe AgHoLoR) and is physical during the route-stem, brushing through contact and maintaining his stride.
There's definitely a WR1 ceiling here and at least a reason to be optimistic that there's gas in the tank. Perriman could be a nice piece for the Eagles and wouldn't cost them an arm-and-a-leg, either.
Continued on page 2 below.
Tajae Sharpe
The forgotten man in Tennessee's offense, Sharpe caught 25 passes for 329 yards and 4 touchdowns in a unit guided by Derrik Henry and A.J Brown. The former sixth-round pick could benefit from a change of scenery and would be a nice fit with the Eagles.
He did suffer a foot injury that stripped him of his 2017 season, but the fact he rebounded to turn 22 of his 26 catches into first downs in 2018, says a lot.
For a 6'2. 194 lbs, wideout, Sharpe is a really strong route-runner who sinks his hips into breaks and can sell a vertical look until snapping his head the other way. His size also makes him dominant inside the 20, which is an area where Ryan Tannehill placed a lot of faith in him down the stretch. In fact, he led the league in 1st downs, moving the chains on 57.1% of his 35 targets and leading the league in receivers with over 30 to their name.
Sharpe may have one of the more extensive route-trees in Football, making him a versatile asset for any team, but what really makes him a fit in Philadelphia are the adjustments he makes.
Sharpe is in-tune with his QB and thrives during scramble drills or broken plays. He's able to leverage open space and make a window for his QB, which given how this Eagles offense is shaping up (making Wentz the epicenter and giving him the freedom to get out of the pocket and make magic happen), that's a really important trait that not every receiver has.
DeMarcus Robinson
I'm not a massive fan of this, but the Eagles reportedly have him in their sights and it's worth noting that they did show interest in the-now 25-year old prior to the NFL Draft.
Robinson has been a fun receiver to watch at times (thanks Daily Fantasy), but he isn't magically going to fix the Eagles' receiving issues. He averaged 14 yards per reception this year, but he's very much been the 'Chris Hogan' of Kansas City.
He has 949 yards and 8 touchdowns to his name after four years in the league, but it is worth noting that he caught 16 passes for 281 yards and 4 scores when Tyreek Hill missed four games due to injury.
There were drop concerns at one point, and Robinson isn't a speedster by name, or a saucy route-runner by nature, but he's solid. He uses his body well and like Greg Ward Jr, is always turning upfield for extra yards when making catches on curls and comebacks. His ball-tracking is actually a big strength, which is what gave Mahomes so much faith on deep passes. Separation may not always be there, but as long as the ball is on the money (and with Mahomes, it usually is), then the receiver is going to have the advantage thanks to a great sense of awareness, stability, and strength at the catch-point.
In a deal that should near $5M per year in a hypothetical situation, the Eagles could do a lot worse. He's only 25, has nice upside, and has stepped up in big spots when the Chiefs needed him to.
