Training Camp: 5 Philadelphia Eagles To Watch
By Tom Ignudo
Nelson Agholor
After losing Jeremy Maclin in free agency last season, the Eagles selected Agholor at the 20th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Agholor, with almost identical measurements to Maclin, was supposed to step in and fill the void on the outside with his route running ability and the damage he could do with the ball in his hands after the catch.
In training camp and against the Indianapolis Colts in week two of the preseason last year, Agholor displayed glimpses of that talent, but he would battle knee injuries all season, which slowed his development and handicapped him from making an impact on offense. It’s a must that first year head coach Doug Pederson gets Agholor involved in the offense. Every West-Coast style offense has a weapon on the outside the quarterback can rely on to create plays when the ball reaches their hands.
Whether it’s in the screen game, in running quick slants or connecting on deep routes across the middle of the field, Pederson should make a priority to utilize Agholor’s skill-set that made him a first round pick in 2015. As the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014, Pederson’s offense didn’t have one wide receiver catch a touchdown pass until Maclin did so in 2015.
The Eagles, who lead the NFL with 37 drops in 2015, are lacking talent on the outside, and Agholor could be the player to fill that void this summer. It remains to be seen if the former USC Trojans standout will live up to the hype of being a first round pick.