Analyzing the Eagles’ wide receiver room after Torrey Smith trade
After an unexpected trade with the Carolina Panthers, the Eagles swapped wide receiver Torrey Smith for cornerback Daryl Worley. That should switch things up in team’s receiver room.
The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (fans are never gonna get tired of saying that) are not done making moves in what’s been a crazy off-season. ‘The Birds’ struck a deal with the Carolina Panthers on Friday. They swapped veteran receiver Torrey Smith in exchange for third-year corner Daryl Worley. Moving Smith may not have come as a surprise to most fans, but adding Worley sure was. Executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman worked his magic again and received an asset in return for the soon-to-be cap casualty.
The six-foot-one, 205-pound defensive back out of West Virginia will be added to an already crowded group of young corners. To learn more about Worley, check out ITI’s piece on 5 things to know about the newest Eagles addition. Besides gaining Worley, losing Smith leaves the Eagles without a solidified second option at wide receiver. Now, whether an in-house upgrade or an outside signing/rookie takes his spot remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure though. The Eagles’ locker room will surely miss a great and honorable man in Smith.
What happens with the receivers now with Smith gone?
Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor are the two locks to start the 2018 season when it rolls around. Depth behind them is what is in question here. Besides Jeffery and Agholor, the other receivers on the squad include Mack Hollins, Shelton Gibson, Bryce Treggs, Greg Ward Jr., Rashard Davis, and Marquess Wilson. Marcus Johnson was another departure, as he was apart of the deal to acquire Michael Bennett.
Some of these guys listed above spent a considerable amount of time on the practice squad, but two names stick out among the others. That would be none other than the Eagles’ 2017 draft picks’ Mack Hollins & Shelton Gibson.
Philadelphia Eagles
Philly’s fourth and fifth round selections are intriguing prospects, and now have a perfect opportunity to compete for more playing time. Hollins, most likely, has the advantage over Gibson. That idea’s based on Hollins showing more flashes and Gibson only being activated for a couple games. Still, Gibson could certainly showcase his speed to determine his worth.
Regarding Hollins, there’s also an obvious connection between him and new Eagles receiver coach Gunter Brewer. Brewer and Hollins are very familiar with each other from their days at UNC,so, as it currently stands, Hollins would be the present favorite to replace Smith.
What about free agency or the draft?
If the team want to bring in any newcomers this off-season, they’ll have plenty of options. If they go the free agency route, there are guys like Paul Richardson, John Brown, and Taylor Gabriel. All have potential to be good fits in Philly’s offense. There’s also a rumor that former Los Angeles Rams receiver Tavon Austin wants to play for the Eagles. The higher-tier guys like Allen Robinson or Sammy Watkins probably aren’t an option based on the team’s salary cap issues.
Related Story: 5 Things to know about Daryl Worley
Don’t rule out any possible trades either. We all know how much Howie likes wheelin’ & dealin’. One possible target may be Cleveland Browns receiver Corey Coleman. The Browns have been on a trading frenzy as of late and have shown that no one on their current roster is safe. The Eagles could give John Dorsey and company a call to see if he’s available.
Next: Torrey Smith offers his farewell to the Eagles
Let’s not forget about the NFL Draft. That will be here before we know it. If the team decides to spend the 32nd-overall pick on a receiver, there will surely be some appealing options available. Think Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton, D.J. Chark, D.J. Moore, Dante Pettis, and others. They could interest the team, and that’s just a few of the possibilities.
Now, regardless of what the team does, the ultimate goal is to assemble another Super Bowl winning roster. Addressing the receiver position is just one of many goals to accomplish. Buckle up Eagles fans, there’s still plenty of changes to come in this fun off-season.