Philadelphia Eagles to pursue wideout Alshon Jeffery, per report
By Ryan Quigley
Could one of the top free agent wide receivers sign with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency?
Add another name to the long list of wide receivers the Philadelphia Eagles plan on pursuing in free agency.
According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the Eagles will be in on Chicago Bears wideout Alshon Jeffery when the NFL’s free agency period begins at 4 p.m. March 9.
"Several league sources anticipate the Eagles being in on Alshon Jeffery (Bears) and Philadelphia was aggressive in exploring trade options in-season on other receivers as well, like Torrey Smith (San Francisco), and they need to add more than one pass catcher this offseason."
It’s no secret just how bad the Eagles’ 2016 receiving corps was. With virtually no weapons to throw to, quarterback Carson Wentz had a rollercoaster campaign in his rookie season despite being nominated for NFL Rookie of the Year. With a reliable target on the outside, Wentz’s game would soar to new heights.
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Jeffery, 6’3″, 218 pounds, is a huge receiver with strong hands and an uncanny ability to attack the ball and win in jump ball situations. Current Eagles wideout Dorial Green-Beckham has a similar skill set, but apparently cared more about the Philadelphia nightlife than putting in effort on the football field.
Jeffery, who will turn 27 this month, is likely going to command a hefty contract in free agency. At the moment, signing him will be financially impossible for the Eagles. However, Philadelphia has already released cornerback Leodis McKelvin and several other players such as Connor Barwin, Ryan Mathews and Jason Kelce could also be released to clear cap space.
If the Eagles are unable to sign Jeffery, they’ve also been rumored to have interest in several other free agent receivers including Kenny Stills, Pierre Garcon and former Eagle DeSean Jackson.