Eagles sign former Bears WR Markus Wheaton to a one-year deal
The Philadelphia Eagles continue to add some veteran help at wide receiver.
It looks like the Philadelphia Eagles are not done packing on veteran talent this offseason. It was announced on Tuesday that the Eagles are signing former Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Markus Wheaton. The receiver/return specialist will seek a new opportunity in Philadelphia, as his short time in Chicago did not earn him any additional contracts.
Wheaton heads into his fifth season in the NFL in 2018. He was drafted by the Steelers back in 2013 and eventually left to sign a two-year contract with the Bears. Unfortunatley, Wheaton did not impress the front office in Chicago, which led to his release in back in March.
Now, Wheaton will get an opportunity to prove his worth with the Super Bowl Champions. A one-year deal has been set in place for the five-year veteran. Though he is far from a lock to make the roster this year, he will get a fair opportunity as the Eagles currently have some key players nursing injuries from last season.
The Announcement:
Roster Move: #Eagles have signed WR Markus Wheaton to a one-year contract.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/UlMXDKnpTJ
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 2, 2018
Wheaton doesn’t really have the upper-hand on any of his fellow receivers currently, but his veteran experience could be helpful. Considering that Alshon Jeffery may miss a week or two in the regular season, the Eagles need all the help they can get at the positon early on. Although they have young guys like Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson ready to step in, they would have to prove that they are truly prepared for a full-time role over the summer.
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The details on the contract are currently unknown. We would have to assume that the Eagles offered a very team-friendly deal to Wheaton, considering the current cap situation is far from ideal. However, there is a good chance that Wheaton doesn’t even step foot on the field in 2018. We have seen the Eagles take chances on veteran wide receivers before and they surely won’t hesitate to hit the release button if they feel the need to. But for now, Wheaton will get another shot in the NFL.