It seems every offseason the Eagles enter free agency and the draft with wide receiver either near the top or at the top of their list of needs.
This year is no different.
Even with other holes elsewhere, the Eagles are still in need of difference makers on the outside. The good news for the Eagles is that there are some intriguing options available in free agency. Unlike last year, when they essentially the receiver position during free agency, they would be wise to add a veteran player to the group this year.
The bad news is they won't have much cap space to do it.
Here is a look at 8 receivers the Eagles could target in free agency, whether it be on a low-money, prove-it deal, or on a backloaded, big-money contract.
John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals: Ross has been linked to the Eagles for years, all the way back to the 2017 NFL Draft. Despite him sitting on the trade block for what seems like at least two seasons, the Eagles have passed.
Bringing Ross in on a prove-it deal, however, could be a chance the Eagles take.
Ross has just 51 catches in his career, but he has in some ways been the big-play threat the NFL thought he could be. An impressive 10 of his 51 career catches have gone for touchdowns and he averaged 18.1 yards-per-catch in 2019, showing he does have the speed to get behind defenses.
Ross will be just 25-years old at the beginning of next season, and might have the best combination of upside, speed and price among the available free agents.
Will Fuller, Houston Texans: It will be interesting to see what kind of deal Fuller gets as a free agent. Fuller has shown he can be a legitimate deep threat and impact how an opposing defense plays just by being on the field.
He has also, however, never played 16 games in his five seasons. He has missed at least five games in four of those seasons due to a combination of injury issues and a PED suspension in 2020.
Fuller could end up getting a fairly big contract, especially from a win-now team that needs speed. If he elects for a two-year deal with a chance to capitalize when the salary cap explodes in 2023, the Eagles could have some interest.
TY Hilton, Indianapolis Colts: Hilton makes this list because of his connection to Nick Sirianni, but he also checks off a major issue the Eagles have been trying to fix for years.
Hilton, 5-foot-10, can be the deep threat the Eagles have lacked — and continue to look for — for years. He is averaging 15.4 yards-per-reception over his nine-year career, and has averaged over 16 yards-per-reception five times. Hilton had a solid, but not spectacular, year last season with the Colts, pulling in 56 catches for 762 yards and five touchdowns.
At 31-years old Hilton would be a bit of a win-now move, but could also come in and help set the culture that Sirianni wants while also helping the young receivers to learn the offense.
Rashard Higgins, Cleveland Browns: Higgins doesn't hit the free agency market as a receiver many will project to be an unquestioned starter, but he does have a nice track record of producing when given a chance. Higgins has three seasons where he has at least 50 targets, and in those seasons, he has totaled 1,483 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last season was a great example of what Higgins can do when he gets the chance to play, as he totaled 599 yards and four touchdowns taking over for an injured Odell Beckham Jr.
Higgins will definitely have multiple teams interested. The Eagles won't win a bidding war, but they can offer Higgins something other teams might not be able — a chance at consistent playing time and potentially being the No. 1 receiver on the outside.
Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers: Bourne is similar to Higgins in that he has never played more than 70% of his team's snaps in a season, and has played over 50% just twice in his four seasons with the 49ers. He has, however, been productive considering his lack of snaps, totaling 1,769 yards and 11 touchdowns on 137 catches in four seasons. Although he isn't much of a deep threat, he has caught one 60% of his targets the last three seasons, and would be a nice upgrade for the Eagles.
Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars: Cole, 28-years old, has had a very productive career considering he came into the league as an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-1, 194 pound receiver has totaled 159 catches for 2,242 yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons, mostly playing as the No. 3 receiver in a bad offense. It would be interesting to see how Cole would do on the outside as one of the top options. Cole likely won't command big money, and the Eagles could give him a chance to be a starter, something he likely wouldn't be on many other teams.
Damiere Byrd, New England Patriots: Byrd got the most snaps of his career last season for the New England Patriots, taking advantage of being in a bad group of skill position players and turning in a solid season. Byrd finished with 47 catches or 604 yards and one touchdown, numbers that don't jump off the page, but were almost all career highs. Byrd could be a good very low-risk, high-reward option for the Eagles.
Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars: Westbrook is a player that fans have had their eyes on for years, and this could be the offseason the Eagles finally take a chance on the former fourth-round pick. Westbrook has flashed potential at times, catching 132 passes for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns from 2018 to 2019. His 2020 season, however, ended with a torn ACL in Week 7. Like other players on this list, Westbrook could be interested in a one-year prove it deal, hoping to prove he is healthy and cash in next offseason.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
