2020 NFL Draft: Howie Roseman explains what set Jalen Reagor apart from other WRs

[Procus]

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/2020-nfl-draft-howie-roseman-jalen-reagor-justin-jefferson-speed

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2020 NFL Draft: Howie Roseman explains what set Jalen Reagor apart from other WRs

By Reuben Frank April 24, 2020 12:19 AM

The one thing Howie Roseman kept emphasizing when talking about Jalen Reagor was his outside speed.

"It was hard to find outside speed in this draft,” Roseman said late Thursday night after the Eagles selected Reagor in the first round of the draft.

That’s what Roseman wanted and that’s what he believes the Eagles got in Reagor, who ran 4.47 at the Combine and showed the Eagles on tape that he can separate from elite cornerbacks.

I think you see the separation on tape,” Roseman said. "You see the vertical sepration as an outside receiver and those things are hard to find. When you look at this draft and guys who can just separate as an outside verticle receiver, there’s not a lot of those guys. They’re hard to find. Obviosuly a guy went really high who has explosivness and speed (Henry Ruggs III), but he was going to go (long before the Eagles picked).

The Eagles have a couple older veterans coming off injuries in Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson and a bunch of unproven young receivers.

They had to get a playmaking receiver, and the Eagles prioritized Reagor over Justin Jefferson, who went one pick later to the Vikings, because Jefferson is mainly a slot receiver and the Eagles believe Reagor can be an outside receiver as well as a slot, a returner and a runner.

"This guy can definitely stretch the field,” Doug Pederson said. "His verticle - for a 5-10, 5-11 guy, he can elevate, he can get balls above the rim as we say, he has the flexibility not only playing outside but also playing inside and then versatility on special teams as a punt returner and possible kick return guy.”

Reagor had a big sophomore year at TCU with 72 catches for 1,061 yards and nine touchdowns before dropping to 43-for-611-5 this past season while playing with a freshman quarterback. 

He also averaged 9.3 yards on 35 carries and averaged 17.8 yards on 23 punt returns.

"Coach and I, after the season ended, we talked about our desire to bring some youth onto the football eam and add some speed, and Jalen has those things,” Roseman said. "This was a very good receiver draft and there were a lot of different flavors. It was like going to Dunkin Donuts and picking out your favorite doughnut. There were a lot of good players in the draft, but Jealon fits something we were really looking for. An exposive guy, ability to contribute as a runner and as a returner, the ability to be explosive with the ball in his hands. These were all things we were looking for and things coach really wanted to stress.”

 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

I like the pick. I know a lot of others do, I know a lot of others really don't like the pick or feel it was too high. I guess time will tell, who knows how this will pan out and what else we do in this draft. 

[20dawk4life]

1 hour ago, Procus said:

This was a very good receiver draft and there were a lot of different flavors. It was like going to Dunkin Donuts and picking out your favorite doughnut

Someone's gotta remind Howie to eat before these press conferences. Dudes always thinking about food. 

[tysongs]

Both of my kids went to TCU and I saw him play a lot.  He did not have a great supporting cast other than his freshman year.  He is very explosive and ran an unofficial 4.22 on his pro day.  Justin Jefferson will be good but never faced press coverage at LSU.  Time will tell but I think Reagor has a lot of potential and his father played for 8 years in NFL. 

[DeathByEagle]

What howie saw? SPEED

Needs a ton of work in route running as he mainly only runs 2 routes. Very limited route tree. I see Tavon Austin unless Moorehead can get more out of this kid. I really hope he can. But Im a bit disappointed you could have had a polished route runner, great hands WR and took a project without trading back a bit. 

[Procus]

9 minutes ago, tysongs said:

Both of my kids went to TCU and I saw him play a lot.  He did not have a great supporting cast other than his freshman year.  He is very explosive and ran an unofficial 4.22 on his pro day.  Justin Jefferson will be good but never faced press coverage at LSU.  Time will tell but I think Reagor has a lot of potential and his father played for 8 years in NFL. 

Overall, pretty decent track record of draftees whose fathers also played in the NFL.  Good point.

7 minutes ago, DeathByEagle said:

What howie saw? SPEED

Needs a ton of work in route running as he mainly only runs 2 routes. Very limited route tree. I see Tavon Austin unless Moorehead can get more out of this kid. I really hope he can. But Im a bit disappointed you could have had a polished route runner, great hands WR and took a project without trading back a bit. 

This is a WR heavy draft.  It very well may be that the best receivers drafted are found in the later rounds.  I suspect he is not the only receiver the Eagles will draft.

[DeathByEagle]

1 minute ago, Procus said:

Overall, pretty decent track record of draftees whose fathers also played in the NFL.  Good point.

This is a WR heavy draft.  It very well may be that the best receivers drafted are found in the later rounds.  I suspect he is not the only receiver the Eagles will draft.

Exactly and there are speed guys still left. There are only 4 pure route runners in this draft and we had a chance to grab one of the best ones and let him slip for speed. There are plenty of speed players left on the board still. Better choice would have been Jefferson then the kid from Texas who has better hands then Reagor. 

[20dawk4life]

4 hours ago, DeathByEagle said:

Exactly and there are speed guys still left. There are only 4 pure route runners in this draft and we had a chance to grab one of the best ones and let him slip for speed. There are plenty of speed players left on the board still. Better choice would have been Jefferson then the kid from Texas who has better hands then Reagor. 

how do you feel about RUggs?

[tysongs]

Ruggs would have been taken over Reagor no matter what.  I honestly think he is less of a risk but Reagor can be just as good.  Reagor is more stocky and is better after the catch but does not have as good of hands.  The only receiver I would have liked is CD Lamb who unfortunately went to the Cowgirls

[PoconoDon]

DJax outside and Reagor slot right. That half of the defense will be in full backpedal mode and anyone going underneath that like Ertz, Goedert, another WR, or RB will have a ton of space to work with. Grab another speedy slot guy like Duvernay for when DJAX leaves or is hurt, and he and Reagor (then outside) can keep that going for a long time.

[tysongs]

I agree I would love DuVernay.  Question is do they need to use 3rd rd pick or can they pick him up early in 4th.