What Does WR Jalen Reagor Bring To The Eagles?
Going into the 2020 NFL offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles offense was missing one key component. A wide-receiver that had speed to stretch the defense out and be an over the top threat.
Well, to the disliking of the Philadelphia fan base, Howie Roseman drafted a wide-receiver with the 21st overall pick that solves that problem. But, why are the fans so unhappy with the pick?
Jalen Reagor isn’t the bigger more physical pass catching wide-receiver the Philadelphia fans had their eyes on. Guys like CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy. But, they just didn’t fit what the Eagles were looking for.
Howie Roseman said it best in his press conference after the 1st round. “We wanted a guy that fit the juice we were looking for.”
With two of the best pass catching tight-ends in the NFL, Zach Ertz & Dallas Goedert, controlling the middle of the field, why add another target to an already clogged area? Instead the Eagles drafted for fit, rather than potential. A fit that many believe could turn out pretty well for the Eagles.
Jalen Reagor is already drawing comparison to Chiefs wide-receiver Tyreek Hill. But, Reagor has a long way to go to get on Hill’s level.
However, a former all-pro wide-receiver, Steve Smith Sr, believes Reagor will get there and be very similar to himself. “He’s a guy who can just burn, take it coast to coast but also return punts, gonna be a great all around player. Kind of like me.”
Reagor’s stats won’t jump out at you from last season. However, you have to look farther into them then whats just on the surface.
While Reagor only caught 43 passes, Jalen had one of the lowest pass thrown accuracy’s in all draft eligible wide-receivers. At only an 31% rate was the ball thrown accurately in the vicinity of Reagor. This in main part due to a true freshman quarterback. But, that didn’t stop Reagor from having one of the best yards-per-catch averages in the draft.
Combine that with his 4.3 speed and his above average ability to track the football is what makes Reagor such an intriguing pick and option for Carson Wentz going forward. Again, Reagor’s 4.47 at the combine was dramatically improved on in his April 8th private pro-day where Jalen clocked an 4.28.
Carson Wentz loves to unwind and throw the ball deep. Just look at game-1 last season vs the Redskins. Two 50+yard touchdowns to DeSean Jackson. But, with DeSean missing the rest of the season after that, Wentz had no one to throw the deep ball too and the Eagles offense struggled. Became too predictable.
With Reagor in the fold, the Eagles major weakness is solved. But, it doesn’t stop there. Reagor also brings an intriguing aspect to the slot.
Line Reagor up against a linebacker or safety in the slot and run a 5-yard out route underneath a wide-receiver on the outside and let him go to work. Reagor has the ability and agility to make the tackler miss and gain those extra few yards teams covet on short check down throws. Something the Eagles love to do.
Something the Eagles never have really had is a prototypical slot wide-receiver. Someone like a Cole Beasley or Wes Welker who just always seem to be open and find holes in the defense. Reagor not only can burn on the outside, but can also find those holes as well on the inside.
Reagor’s explosiveness off the line is key to that ability to play inside and outside. His burst speed, stop-to-start acceleration, was 140.4. Which among the WRs drafted in the 1st round last night was at the top if the best among them.
Drafting Reagor may be a tough pill to swallow right now with Justin Jefferson still on the board. But, Reagor’s potential elite playmaking ability in all three zones is hard to find. Especially in a wide-receiver that can line up inside and on the outside.
Just remember all the criticism you have now when Carson Wentz finds Jalen Reagor over the top for an 40+ yard touchdown in September at the home opener. Give it time, Reagor is a better option for this offense than many people actually think and believe.