Philadelphia Eagles have no choice other than taking Chase if available

For quite some time now, the Philadelphia Eagles have been talked about for this huge decision that they have on their hands. It was hard enough to find some common ground on what the Birds should do at six in both the media and the fan base. Determining what should be done at 12 opens up another huge can of worms, but here’s something that we can all agree on. If Ja’Marr Chase is, indeed, available at 12, he has to be the guy that they select. Period.

What’s that? There’s no way that Case is going to be there you say? Don’t get us wrong. It’s a stretch.  ITI just listed Chase as one of the guys that won’t be available when Philly’s on the clock at 12 recently. Don’t bet the farm on that if you’re an Eagles fan though. There are a few things that we all need to consider. Pull up a chair, won’t you?

This might be some of the best news that Philadelphia Eagles fans get all week.

Let’s do a quick mock draft here. The theory is, by many, that four quarterbacks will be taken in the draft’s first four picks. We haven’t seen a wide receiver taken before the 12th pick in any of the last three drafts, and there wasn’t one taken until the 12th selection a season ago.

It’s not impossible that Ja’marr Chase will be there when Philly is on the clock to make their selection. 94 WIP-FM’s Eliot Shorr-Parks echoed that sentiment on the final Monday of March, so let’s restate something. If Chase is available, he has to be the selection, and there’s no if, and, or but about it.

This is something all Philadelphia Eagles fans should be able to agree on.

Do you remember that feeling you had when the Eagles took Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson or, better yet, that feeling that you got every time you saw Jefferson play? If you think missing out on him in 2020 was tragic, missing on Chase a year later would be catastrophic. Think about this.

During the 2018 and 2019 college football seasons, Chase and Jefferson were teammates, and the last time that we saw them together, it was actually Chase whose star shined brighter, even if it was only a tad brighter.

Now, it’s been a while since we’ve all seen Chase in a game that counts towards the win-loss total, so here’s a refresher if you need one. In 2019, LSU’s record-breaking championship season, Chase hauled in 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Jefferson wasn’t too far behind. He snagged 111 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 trips to the end zone. Chase earned First-team All-SEC honors that season to go along with Biletnikoff Award and a unanimous All-American nod. Jefferson was right behind him with a Second-team All-SEC nod.

Jefferson is no slouch. Don’t take from this what hasn’t been written. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, but Chase is every bit the all-world talent that his former teammate is. Maybe Joe Burrow lobbies for a reunion in Cincinnati, but if Chase somehow falls to Philly at the 12th pick, again, he absolutely and positively has to be the guy. Note even Howie Roseman can screw this one up.