Rumored Eagles prospect draws accurate comparisons to Super Bowl hero

It’s almost second nature to compare something that’s unfamiliar to other things that we have a better understanding of. We do it to help us save time in the evaluation process or make decisions about whether or not something is worth our attention. It happens when we discuss the Philadelphia Eagles, rumored free agents, and possible draft targets. We do it in our daily lives.

Occasionally, we’re right. Sprite still tastes better than Sierra Mist, even though the formulas appear to be similar. Jalen Hurts does kind of remind you of Russell Wilson with less accuracy on the deep ball. Here are two other football comps we were given over the past five years.

Boston Scott could become another Darren Sproles. JJ Arcega-Whiteside is an Alshon Jeffery clone.

Sure, Scott can ball, but he isn’t Sproles. JJAW isn’t anywhere close to being Alshon Jeffery. Heck, there are times when it feels like Jefffrey Lurie could be as productive as Arcega-Whiteside is, but there may be an Alshon Jeffrey clone in this draft, and it’s someone Birds fans have heard of.

Drake London gets mentioned in the same breath as an Eagles Super Bowl hero.

If you’re looking for something to check out during your free time, Bleacher Report’s Ian Wharton cooked up a nice read on some of the 2022 NFL Draft prospects, comparing them to NFL stars we’re familiar with.

How ironic is it that a wide receiver prospect that’s been linked to the Eagles, former USC Trojans star Drake London, drew a comparison to an Eagles Super Bowl hero, the aforementioned Alshon Jeffrey? Wharton describes him as ‘Alshon Jeffery as a Salsa dance master’, and here’s some of what he had to say on the subject.

"Big, physical receivers who dominate at the catch point aren’t as en vogue right now—as speed and separation have helped quarterbacks avoid turnovers and sacks in recent years—but that doesn’t mean there’s not immense value in them… Built in the mold between former Bears and Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery, London was almost perfect at the catch point throughout his three-year USC career. The only reason his production wasn’t even more impressive than the 160 catches for 2,153 yards and 15 touchdowns he totaled was the lack of consistent quarterback play."

Some of the player comparisons we hear are bogus. We can throw them out immediately like that ‘it tastes like chicken’ lie that many of us have been fed more than once in our lives (pun intended). The London/Jeffery thing works though.

London is everything that JJAW was supposed to be, a legitimate Alshon Jeffery clone that runs good routes and makes contested catches on the 50/50 balls. Now, to some, we realize that you believe ‘contested catches’ is code for ‘he doesn’t get open’. That’s another story for another day though. Still, two things must be mentioned.

One is this. We know what you’re thinking. Mention any Pac-12 receiver, and Birds fans get nervous, and it’s understandable why that would be the case.

Arcega-Whiteside played at Stanford for the Cardinal, and long before we ever knew who he was, Philly took a flier on another former Trojan, Nelson Agholor. We all know how that worked out.

The second key point worth mentioning is this. London is a different animal from the typical Pac-12 receiver. He’s the real deal.

Prior to breaking his ankle and ending his final run in Los Angeles after only eight games, he had already tallied 88 receptions for 1,084 yards, and he reached the end zone seven times. What might he have done had he played the entire season?

Some draft pundits see Drake London as the best wide receiver in this class. Others have seen him as a mid-first-rounder that could be available to Philadelphia at 15. He’s been connected to the Eagles in several mock drafts. He could be interesting if the Birds are on the clock and they’re thinking of taking a wideout.

For those of you who still aren’t convinced, here’s another way to look at things. If we’re discussing Pac-12 talent and the Eagles, you can bring up Zach Ertz if you’re trying to make yourselves feel better about this. Maybe we shouldn’t trash the conference as a whole.