J.J. Arcega-Whiteside will be moving from wide receiver to tight end, according to a report from Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Arcega-Whiteside is expected to begin the move this upcoming Monday when the Eagles begin their offseason program.
Arcega-Whiteside moving positions is a smart decision by both the team and the player. If Arcega-Whiteside remained at receiver there was a decent chance he might not have made the roster next season.
Now, his chances change.
This move should give Arcega-Whiteside a much better chance of making the roster and turning around his career. At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Arcega-Whiteside has the size to play tight end and his skillset seems better suited for the position. Arcega-Whiteside was the best blocking receiver on the team last season and basically play the role of a tight end anyway in the passing game.
Arcega-Whiteside carved a role out for himself on the team by becoming a strong special teams player. As a full-time tight end Arcega-Whiteside should have a better chance of both making the roster and finding a role on the team on game days. Spending an offseason teaching Arcega-Whiteside a new position is also a smart move by the team, as it is one last effort by them to try to make good on the potential he showed that made him a second-round pick.
The other tight ends currently on the roster are Dallas Goedert, Jack Stoll, Tyree Jackson, Richard Rodgers and Noah Togiai. The Eagles could also add multiple tight ends in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Arcega-Whiteside has his work cut out for him to make the team, but outside of Goedert and arguably Stoll, no other players are a lock — giving him a better chance of making the team than he had at receiver.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com