The Eagles need to peruse Alshon Jeffery, and they need to peruse him hard
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Multiple sources report that the Eagles are expected to take a run at one of the league’s best free agents this offseason. As first reported by CBS Sports own Jason La Canfora, the Eagles are going to make a strong push to sign the Bears #1 player Alshon Jeffery. This would be demoralizing for the Chicago Bears, but could be beneficial with the Eagles.
The Eagles were one of the worst receiving teams in the league last season. Most of the receptions came from Tight Ends Zach Ertz, Brent Celek and Trey Burton. It was almost like rookie Carson Wentz didn’t have any confidence in his wide receivers. And he shouldn’t, three of the five wide receivers for the Eagles were in the top 50 in drops [Jordan Matthews (#15), Dorial Green-Beckham (#44), and Nelson Agholor (#45)]. Towards the end of the season heavy boos were coming down from the crowd each dropped pass the Eagles had, and it felt like there was at least one every possession. They haven’t had a true #1 receiver since they cut another free agent target of theirs, DeSean Jackson. Alshon Jeffery would fill that #1 spot and if they happen to get another high named wide receiver (targets include: DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Terrelle Pryor, Torrey Smith, Kenny Stills), they could be in question to be one of the best receiving cores in the league.
Spotrac is projected for Jeffery to get at least $12.2 million per year. The Eagles currently only have $6,523,476, but Adam Kaplan reported last week that the Eagles will go on a cap space splurge. This led to all Eagles writers to see who will be on that cutting space. Most writers agreed of players that will probably be not on the team next year. If everything goes expected, the Eagles will have $30-40 million to spend this offseason. The “splurge” already caught its first victims last week with the cuttings of Leodis McKelvin and Connor Wujciak, moves that saved $3,663,000 in space. Expect more to be cut this upcoming week or traded once free agency begins. This is another reason why to target Jeffery, you can give him the money that he wants and can even pry him away from Chicago.
The Chicago Bears are not going anywhere soon, they had a miserable 3-13 record this past season and are projected last in the NFC North for next season. They also don’t have a quarterback that can bring hope to them. Jeffery can go to an up-in-coming team with a future franchise quarterback. At age 26 and already with veteran experience, he can have a hall-of-fame resume by the time he retires. Something that he probably couldn’t get if he is playing behind quarterbacks such as Matt Barkley. Carson Wentz had a solid season with no receiver play. If he can get a receiver that can actually catch a ball, he could be in conversation to win MVP next season.
Jeffery is coming off a year that was just fair. Marred by a four game PED suspension late in the year, Jeffery only dragged 52 receptions for 821 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. It was stats that he achieved three games sooner in 2015 in which ended after only nine games with a hamstring injury.
