Jason Avant shares what his role will be with Philadelphia Eagles WR corps

Jason Avant recently laid out what his role with the Philadelphia Eagles is.

So, if we’re taking a little inventory, here’s what we know so far. We know Jason Avant spent ten years in the NFL, eight of them as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. We know that Merrill Reese is the voice of the “Birds”, and there aren’t many fans who are walking that have seen more games than he has.

That means if he says the aforementioned Avant along with DeSean Jackson and Jermy Maclin make up a trio of the best receivers that he ever saw, the rest of us would be wise to listen. Here’s what’s interesting. The Eagles have employed two coaches since those three shared the field, but as fate would have it, two of those wide receivers are still allowed access to the Novacare Complex.

One is DeSean Jackson, who’s now entering the second season of his second stint with the team. The other is Jason Avant, who recently rejoined the team in a teaching capacity. We know who Avant is and what he brought to the team as a slot receiver. We know he’s respected by both current and former Eagles. We know that he’s here thanks to the NFL’s Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Fellowship. What we didn’t know is what he’ll be doing exactly. Recently, we got some clarity thanks to a sitdown he had with someone “Birds” fans know well.

One Philadelphia Eagles legend spends a few moments chatting with another.

If you’re an Eagles fan, no one should have to tell you who Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro is. Along with being one of the most trusted voices when it comes to all things Eagles related. he’s also the host of his own “Eagles Insider Podcast”. One of his more recent editions featured an interview with the sure-handed Avant, who mentioned that coaching is something that comes naturally to him. Take a look.

"It’s always been there… I was a coach when I played with my teammates and with the receiver room. I was the one that was always giving out the information that the coaches wanted me to relay to the players. It was always something in me to try, to see if I really wanted to do it, but I’m a coach at heart. People know that about me, so it’s no surprise."

So, will Avant be tutoring the veterans or the rookies or a combination of the two? You’ll like what he had to say here.

"The younger guys are my primary focus. I know that when DeSean was young and I was here, he listened… I anticipate him learning just as well. I look at the game from a different perspective, and he understands how I got open. When we were here, it was relying upon watching film and wisdom, so I’m pretty sure that there are things that I’m going to be able to help him with as well, but my primary focus is Jalen, Quez, and John."

Call it a crazy hunch, but this just feels like this will work. After a year of Carson Walch, famous for once stating that Mack Hollins was doing a great job because he “lined up correctly”, it feels like anybody can do a better job.

Aaron Moorehead was a nice hire in the offseason though, and now, with Avant in the mix, along with Matthew Harper, the team’s assistant wide receivers coach, we might be able to say a few things with confidence.

Once they’re healthy, expect bounce-back years from Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson. Expect a new and much-improved JJ Arcega-Whiteside. Expect the “Birds” to bring Jalen Reagor, and John Hightower, and Quez Watkins along fairly nicely. The days of less-than-stellar play at the wide receiver position might be over in Philadelphia. If you love the Eagles, you’ve been waiting to hear that for a long time.