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Are Expectations Too High For The Philadelphia Eagles Receivers?

By Samuel Sanchez

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The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into the 2015-2016 season with the most complete team the organization has had in years. The defense has improved and the offense still looks to put up points in bunches. With the Eagles now on the doorstep of OTA’s, are we all expecting too much from the talented but extremely young wide receiving corps?

The team’s departure of pro bowl wide outs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin in back to back seasons have led the Philadelphia Eagles to draft Jordan Matthews, Josh, Huff, and Nelson Agholor in the past two drafts. The receiving corps looks completely different from a couple seasons ago and many fans are excited for what the future holds. The only issue is that the expectations might be too high for this season at least.

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The wide receiver rookies last season had night and day numbers. Jordan Matthews lived up to the absurd hype in the summer, and finished the year with 67 catches, 872 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns. Matthews came on strong late in the season and was especially effective in the slot. These numbers are some of the reason why Eagles fans have such lofty expectations. Matthews solid year was a rare occurrence for rookie wide receivers. In contrast, Josh Huff only managed to put up 8 catches, 98 yards, and zero receiving touchdowns.

Both stats are extremes for rookie wide outs, but point to median numbers for what to expect for Nelson Agholor. Something around 600 yards seems fair for Agholor, but the other receivers on the roster are a bit of a mystery still. Matthews put up great numbers last season, but 90 percent of that came from the slot. The same results are not guaranteed when/if Matthews moves outside. Josh Huff showed loads of potential in the passing game and as a return specialist, but what kind of expectations can you set after a 8 catch season?

The veterans on the roster are also a bit of a guessing game. Riley Cooper had a good 2013 season racking up over 800 receiving yards, but failed to have the same impact in 2014. Cooper’s production in 2015 remains to be seen, but most think he will produce more of the same lackluster stats this coming season. The other veterans on the wide receiving corps is Miles Austin and Seyi Ajirotutu. Austin’s best years are behind him and has always dealt with nagging injuries so to expect much is far fetched but Austin still provides quality depth, and while Ajirotutu is a special teams ace, he doesn’t contribute much in the passing game.

The  Philadelphia Eagles have a good group of wide receivers, but to expect phenomenal numbers this year is wishful thinking. Each receivers production for this upcoming year is a mystery. The team has a potential three headed monster in Jordan Matthews, Josh Huff, and Nelson Agholor, but that will take time to develop. For now the Eagles have a solid group of players with high character and a willingness to get better. This wide receiving group will put up good numbers, but they won’t blow you away with gaudy stats.

The future beyond 2015-2016 looks extremely bright for Matthews, Huff, and Agholor, but only time and experience will mold them into what we expect them to be this year. The guys behind the talented trio aren’t flashy but have had success in the NFL. Expectations and hype are rising for this receiving corps as Eagles football inches closer. This year looks to have a step up in production from the receivers collectively than previous years, but the best years for this receiving group is ahead of them. The Philadelphia Eagles are only scratching the surface of what can become of their wide outs. This year is only a baby step into the future.

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