Philadelphia Eagles: Where Texas WR John Harris Fits

Following the departure of Jeremy Maclin the Philadelphia Eagles once promising wide receiver picture quickly plunged into uncertainty. Maclin had been the corps’ tone setter the previous season, accounting for the vast majority of the unit’s production. His breakout campaign saw him convert 85 receptions into 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns; an impressive feat to be sure. By comparison, the team’s three returning wide receivers, Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper, and Josh Huff managed just 1,547 yards and 11 touchdowns on 130 catches, combined.

While the addition of the dynamic and versatile Nelson Agholor will help to fill the void in production created by Maclin’s departure, the team is still in need of special teams help on the back end of the depth chart. Although special teams depth is rarely at the forefront of fan and media attention, Chip Kelly puts special emphasis on the merits of the group and its impact on the game. It is in this group that UDFA wide receiver John Harris hopes to find his niche’ and make his bid for the team’s final wide receiver slot.

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Harris possesses a skill set that aligns favorably with Chip’s proclivity for adding versatile teams’ players at the back of each position grouping. As a Redshirt Senior at the University of Texas, Harris had spent the previous 3 seasons working primarily as a special teams ace, before having a breakout 2014 campaign that saw him haul in 68 balls for 1,051 yards and 7 touchdowns, dwarfing his previous accrued output of just 9/190/3. Perhaps it is this lack of experience and production coupled with the incredibly deep receiver class that resulted in his undrafted status. Nonetheless, a hardnosed kid who plays with an edge, Harris exemplifies many of the intangibles that Kelly and co. look for when identifying capable special teams players.

Standing at 6-2 and 218 pounds, as well as running a reported 4.58 40 yard dash, Harris possesses the physical skill set necessary to succeed at the NFL level. While his physical gifts bode well for his odds at carving out a roster spot, his game as an offensive weapon is predicated on his versatility and savvy. The small nuances to Harris’ game are apparent when examining his game film. While Harris doesn’t possess an eye-popping signature trait that separates him from the rest of the class, he consistently does the “little things” right. His feel for different coverages allows him to locate and sit in the soft spots in zone, and beyond that, he is often able to utilize effective timing, positioning, and rhythm to set himself up to gain maximum yardage after the catch.

In a short period of time, Harris demonstrated the ability to develop a rapport with his quarterback, occasionally reeling in well executed back shoulder passes and coming back to the football when the situation dictated it. Additionally, Harris’ ability to line up both inside and out, and experience at multiple positions (Tight End, Quarterback, and Wide Receiver dating back to high school), bolsters his appeal to the team.

Harris’ tangible physical abilities don’t jump off the screen, but there is potential there. His size and length allow him to high point the football and make plays on it in the air. He demonstrates great concentration when fighting for the ball, and has the strong hands to pluck the ball out of the grasp of defenders. Although his route running is raw, his solid movement skills help to compensate in this respect. Harris accelerates smoothly off the line of scrimmage, but his ability to engage DBs and get off of jams is inconsistent, and mitigates his ability to separate. Getting off the jam and gaining release at the NFL level may prove difficult for Harris initially. While Harris’ ability to separate is nothing to marvel at, he exhibits skill in effectively shifting gears down field to track the football and position his body for the catch.

Although Harris’ skill set favors his roster chances, the chips will need to fall accordingly for him to secure a spot. The presence of a late free agency acquisition, Seyi Ajirotutu, complicates things a bit. Ajirotutu is a veteran who served as a special teams ace for the San Diego Charger in previous years. It may be difficult for Harris to bridge the experience gap as Ajirotutu has proven productive in the past, and will be more readily equipped to step up in a pinch. Not to mention, the much maligned Riley Cooper and the newly acquired Miles Austin may provide similar obstacles. Though Austin, and to a lesser extent, Cooper, are both expendable, and Austin brings virtually no special teams value. Ultimately, however, Ajirotutu (and perhaps Devante Davis) pose Harris’ most direct competition.

Given Harris’ size/speed combination, mental make-up, and skill set I would expect him to push for a spot on the team in some capacity. Last offseason, tight end Trey Burton (who fits a similar mold), surprised and found his way onto the final 53 man roster. While Harris’ odds are a bit more precipitous, he would make sense as a versatile practice squad candidate with special teams upside. As Chip Kelly has said in the past, special teams is the most direct route for a young player in securing a roster slot, and in this situation it seems that this is just the case. Given the Philadelphia Eagles historic special teams dominance in 2014, it may be wise to facilitate this philosophy, and adding a player like Harris over someone who may or may not offer a slight upgrade as a pass catcher could prove the prudent measure.

Next: 2015 Eagles Projected Defensive Depth Chart

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