Will Alshon Jeffery Get Traded This Offseason (And Soon)?
With two seasons remaining on his contract, it looks like the Alshon Jeffery era of Eagles football maybe coming to an end with rumors of a potential trade.
According an article by The Athletic the New York Jets are looking to potentially acquiring Jeffery in a trade. The connections appear obvious as current Jets general manager Joe Douglas used to be Howie Roseman’s assistant and helped craft the 2017 Eagles. Jeffery was a key free agent signing for the offense that season, signing a one-year deal from Chicago before signing a four-year extension mid-season.
Lead New York wide receiver (and Temple alumni) Robbie Anderson may potentially be leaving the Jets in free agency (how about going back to the same stadium you played in college Robbie!) and Jeffery could be a nice veteran replacement. The Jets are trying to develop Sam Darnold and his immune system.
Not only are the Jets trying to acquire a veteran receiver whose getting paid less than the potential money Anderson will make, but Philadelphia themselves seem willing to move on from the 30-year old receiver. Over the past year anonymous sources in the Eagles locker room have complained of Zach Ertz’s getting too many targets and the offense not having the same chemistry as 2017. Howard Eskin and other reporters have claimed that Alshon was the man behind the comments.
Jeffery himself is coming off the worst season of his Philadelphia tenure with only 490 receiving yards in ten games for the Birds before his season ending to injury. He hasn’t been the same receiver since his infamous dropped pass in New Orleans that ended the 2018 season. It’s also worth pointing out that the Eagles offense didn’t start clicking in 2019 until December and Jeffery was at his most productive with Nick Foles under center in both 2017 and 2018. The Birds had a miserable receiving core last season and are desperate to reboot a historically woeful position group.
Word has it that Jeffery himself would “welcome a change of scenery” as his chemistry with Wentz hasn’t been as effective since 2017. Who knows how long he plans on playing but Alshon may want a chance to prove himself as big-time receiver again on another team, compelling a new NFL contract when he’s a free agent in two years.
A trade is definitely a preferable option for moving on from Jeffrey as opposed to releasing him. Cutting the receiver will be a $26 million cap hit. Getting what remains of his talent in the next season or two maybe preferable and it’s still always tough to let a key member of the greatest Eagles team ever go. Them moving on from Nigel Bradham was tough enough considering his contributions over the past four years.
If Jeffery gets traded he will probably still have a positive Eagles legacy despite an odd ending. His free agent signing in 2017 should go down as one of the best in team history as he instantly became the number one receiver for Carson Wentz’s incredible second year. He made big catches throughout that year and his performance in the playoffs made him an Eagles legend with three touchdown catches including the first touchdown of Super Bowl LII.