What the Eagles will do in the 2019 NFL Draft next week remains a mystery, but as the draft inches closer, one name is starting to gain some traction for the team at No. 25 overall.
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown.
Two mock drafts released within the last 24 hours have the Eagles taking Brown, the 5-foot-9, 166 pound receiver that is considered the most explosive receiver (or perhaps player) in the draft. Brown averaged 18.3 yards per catch on 132 receptions during his two years at Oklahoma.
First, on Tuesday, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah projected Brown to the Eagles:
It would make sense for the Eagles to add a receiver because I don't think DeSean Jackson's a long-term solution and they could lose Nelson Agholor next year, as he's due to hit free agency.
Then, on Wednesday, Sports Illustrated's Jenny Vrentas projected Brown to the Eagles as well:
Brown's size (5' 9", 166 pounds) turns off some evaluators, and the fact that he's coming off an injury (Lisfranc surgery) adds to the durability concerns, but the Eagles don't need any help in projecting him: He's DeSean Jackson.
The Eagles taking Brown with their first-round pick might seem repetitive after adding Jackson, but as mentioned by both Jeremiah and Vrentras, the pick does make sense.
The top priority for the Eagles in the 2019 season is to make sure Carson Wentz has a bounce-back year. They have already invested millions into the receiver position this offseason to make sure that happens, and are set to have around $30 million in salary cap hits for receivers in 2019 — not even including tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.
Simply put, the Eagles are loaded on offense — and they want to make sure it stays that way.
Jackson is 32-years old. Agholor is a free agent next offseason. Jeffery has never really clicked with Wentz. Adding Brown this year would give them two extremely quick receivers — something they didn't have at all last season — to help stretch defenses. The idea of Brown and Jackson on the field at the same time would likely strike fear into opposing defensive coordinators.
Brown would be a backup this season, but would be able to step in as a starter in 2020, with a year under his belt and ready to really contribute.
It has always seemed to eat at Eagles top executive Howie Roseman that the team let Jackson go in 2013. He can make sure his team won't be in need of a deep threat for, ideally, a long time by adding Brown to the roster.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
