Draftees the Eagles regret ignoring for Jalen Reagor (other than Jefferson)

Justin Jefferson wasn’t the only guy the Eagles ignored!

Put these numbers in your minds for a second: 2021, 21, 22, 31, 88, 396, 1,400, one, and seven. Philadelphia Eagles fans, stat junkies, people who are employed by Pro Football Focus, and the general public that’s been following Jalen Reagor and Justin Jefferson‘s careers for the past two seasons may have already figured out the pattern.

In 2021’s NFL Draft, the Eagles took Jalen Reagor with the 21st-overall selection before the Minnesota Vikings took Jefferson one spot later at 22. During their rookie seasons, Reagor caught 31 passes for 396 yards, and he reached the end zone as a receiver once. Meanwhile, Jefferson was busy hauling in 88 receptions for 1,400 yards en route to a seven-touchdown season.

Justin Jefferson also earned his first Pro Bowl, a Second-team All-Pro Award, and a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team. We could stop there, but we’ll continue.

What’s sad is the gap hasn’t lessened between the two in their second season. With each passing week, Jefferson becomes more of a star and Jalen Reagor gets smaller and smaller in his rear-view mirror. One day, hopefully, Reagor will be in Philly’s rear-view as well.

He’s approaching ‘bust’ territory. Some are willing to call him a bust now, but here’s something that we don’t always bring up when we’re dissecting his latest on-field blunder. Justin Jefferson wasn’t the only miss the Eagles had by scribbling his name on a draft card.

Here are three more prospects from that same draft that, no doubt, would have wound up being better players in an Eagles jersey.