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Rating the NFL draft: Eagles beat team weighs in on first-round wide receiver Jalen Reagor


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https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/nfl-draft-eagles-jalen-reagor-tcu-20200427.html

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Rating the NFL draft: Eagles beat team weighs in on first-round wide receiver Jalen Reagor

by Paul Domowitch, Jeff McLane, Les Bowen and EJ Smith, Updated: April 27, 2020- 5:16 PM
 
Rating the NFL draft: Eagles beat team weighs in on first-round wide receiver Jalen Reagor
 
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EJ Smith

Thumbs sideways

In a vacuum, the Eagles using their first-round pick on TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor is a logical choice rooted in an overt attempt to add speed through the draft. They had their pick of Reagor, Justin Jefferson, Brandon Aiyuk, and others, and went with the best deep threat capable of playing on the outside.

Time will tell whether the Eagles’ choice was the right one; history tells us it’s tricky drafting wide receivers in the first round. The question right now mostly delves into the decision process. The team made a sharp departure from holding college production at the top of its priority list in the first draft since Joe Douglas vacated his role as vice president of player personnel to become the New York Jets’ general manager. Will choosing speed over stats work in the Eagles’ favor?

When asked why they passed on Jefferson, one of the most productive receivers in the draft, Eagles GM Howie Roseman said the team expects Reagor to fit better into the offense. It makes sense. Jefferson was at his best as a slot receiver, working in the middle of the field. The Eagles have enough players occupying that space but needed speed on the outside. Jefferson is a better fit in Minnesota, and Aiyuk is a perfect fit in San Francisco, but the Eagles didn’t value them as highly. Sometimes fit can cost you a better prospect.

All this aside, perhaps the biggest indictment on the Reagor selection is the player went four picks earlier. The Cowboys, enjoying an earlier pick after losing the NFC East to the Eagles, got CeeDee Lamb, arguably the best wideout in a deep class. When asked why the Eagles didn’t try to move up for a sliding Lamb, Roseman said the team was unwilling to trade one of its "high picks" on Day 2 of the draft. It made some sense that night, but using one of those picks on a backup quarterback makes it less logical.Reagor could turn into a very good player. But if we’re just looking at prospects and value, trading up for Lamb would have provided a better outcome.

Paul Domowitch

Thumbs down

Like a guy on a dating site, the Eagles went into this draft looking for a definite type. They wanted players, particularly at wide receiver, who ran really, really fast.

In a league where creating mismatches is king, I completely understand their desire to want to add speed. Especially after last season. They had the fifth-fewest pass plays of 30 yards or more (15). Quick strikes weren’t a part of their arsenal. Just six of their 43 touchdown drives took four plays or less.

But in their quest to add speed in this draft, I think they violated one of the cardinal rules of scouting. They paid too much attention to analytics on some of these guys and not enough to what they saw on tape.

That includes Reagor. Selecting him over LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who was gobbled up by the grateful Vikings with the pick after the Eagles, was, in my opinion, misguided.

I’m not suggesting Reagor can’t play and is going to be a complete flop. I’m saying he’s not nearly as good as Jefferson. The 21st pick should’ve been a no-brainer and the Eagles screwed it up.

In explaining why he took Reagor over Jefferson, Howie Roseman used the word "fit’’ four times. As in, he was "the right fit for our football team.’’ And "it’s how the coaches envision these guys being used and what they’re looking for to fit our quarterback’s skill set.’’

What that means is that somebody in the organization – likely one of the team’s offensive coaches -- convinced Roseman that Jefferson was strictly a slot receiver and wouldn’t be able to provide any quick-strike ability.

While it’s true that Jefferson, who caught 111 passes and 18 touchdowns last year, was used almost exclusively in the slot in 2019, he can play inside or outside. Frankly, I don’t care where a guy lines up if he catches 111 passes and 18 touchdowns.

We’re not talking about a plodder here. Jefferson ran a 4.43-second 40 at the combine. Reagor ran a 4.47 and blamed it on being heavy. Jefferson has elite route-running skills. He has sure hands.

Reagor might have a little more deep speed than Jefferson and be a little more suited to be a "gadget’’ weapon. And gadget plays apparently are going to be a big part of Doug Pederson’s new Kyle Shanahan-influenced offense.

But three or four years from now, they’re going to regret taking Reagor over Jefferson.

Jeff McLane

Thumbs sideways

I don’t have as much of a problem with the player as I do the Eagles’ not exercising their other options, which included trading up for CeeDee Lamb, or taking Justin Jefferson at No. 21, or moving back for Jalen Reagor.

But I think the Eagles had valid reasons for not pulling the trigger on any of those other moves. It seems they had the same top three receivers as most teams -- Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs. They probably thought there was a chance one could fall within striking distance. Ruggs went first to the Raiders at No. 12. Jeudy was taken second at No. 15 by the Broncos. And Lamb was still on the board at No. 17 when the Cowboys were up.

It would have cost a fair amount to move ahead of the Raiders. We’re talking at least a second-round pick and likely a fourth-rounder. I’m not even sure the Jets would have been willing to trade back from No. 11 with tackles available. No. 16, where the Falcons took cornerback A.J. Terrell, might have been more doable. Maybe they were afraid he wouldn’t be available at No. 21 -- the Raiders did take cornerback Damon Arnette at No. 19.

But if the Eagles were taking a chance on Dallas passing on Lamb because receiver wasn’t a pressing need, they made the wrong call. It had to sting to see the Cowboys pounce on the Oklahoma receiver and add him to an already deep position.

As for Reagor vs. Jefferson, I get the Eagles’ thinking, especially if they had the latter as strictly a slot guy. The slot receiver just isn’t as important as outside receiver in the Eagles’ offense. And they clearly needed outside speed. Reagor can move. I’d be a little concerned that he ran only 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine, but GPS tracking showed that his play speed was elite and that he was one of the fastest receivers in the draft.

The Eagles clearly targeted Reagor, and maybe the Vikings would have taken him at No. 22. But my feeling, based on conversations with a bunch of sources around the NFL, is that he would have been available later in the first and possibly in the second. We’ll never know whether that would have been the case, and the Eagles didn’t want to take that risk based on their intel. But their draft-day record has been spotty and hasn’t afforded them the benefit of the doubt.

Les Bowen

Thumbs up

I sure would have liked to have seen the Eagles trade up for CeeDee Lamb, but that would have been expensive. For now, I’m not going to second-guess them on Reagor over Justin Jefferson or Denzel Mims or Brandon Aiyuk or whomever. I think every team had a different evaluation on that group of guys, as to who was the fourth or fifth or sixth wide receiver in this WR-heavy draft.

Reagor’s athletic upside is remarkable. A lot of the negatives around him, I am willing to attribute to the situation at TCU, the freshman quarterback, Reagor being open a lot and not getting the ball. That would frustrate me, especially if I thought it would affect my draft stock. I am a little worried that the Eagles seem to have used speed as an overarching criterion. Just because you want to add speed to your team, that doesn’t mean every evaluation turns on which option runs the fastest.

I’m not a huge thumbs-up on this, but in the absence of the Eagles being able to get to Lamb, I think Reagor is a reasonable choice.

Posted: April 27, 2020 - 5:16 PM
 

 

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Bit of a mixed bag really which I think is reflected amongst the fans too. I like the pick a lot but I can understand it from those who don't. 

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When asked why the Eagles didn’t try to move up for a sliding Lamb, Roseman said the team was unwilling to trade one of its "high picks" on Day 2 of the draft. It made some sense that night, but using one of those picks on a backup quarterback makes it less logical.Reagor could turn into a very good player. But if we’re just looking at prospects and value, trading up for Lamb would have provided a better outcome.

I hope Reagor tears it up here while Lamb becomes the next Justin Blackmon.  

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Reagor is the explosive playmaker that has the wheels to stretch the defense on the outside. Been sorely missed in this offense the last two years. Had to swing for the fences with an outside speed receiver. That’s Reagor. The thing is he doesn’t need the massive stats right away to make this offense so much better. He’s going to make Ertz, Goedert and Sanders job so much easier.

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I think Lamb went to the right place.  The closer he got to being drafted the more diva-ish attitude I saw leak out.  I'm starting to wonder if he will be able to handle fame and money.  I might be totally imagining this but it caught my attention.

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Baldy said on WIP yesterday the first 3 picks were "projects" and it looked like an analytics draft.

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39 minutes ago, Perforator said:

Baldy said on WIP yesterday the first 3 picks were "projects" and it looked like an analytics draft.

Hmm... I mean given where we were picking in each round it's hard for those players not to be? I guess you could argue Jefferson isn't a project but he's a slot WR which we didn't need.

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2 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Hmm... I mean given where we were picking in each round it's hard for those players not to be? I guess you could argue Jefferson isn't a project but he's a slot WR which we didn't need.

He said Minnesota probably spit out their teeth when the Eagles picked Reagor instead of Jefferson. I guess time will tell 🙂

 

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35 minutes ago, Perforator said:

He said Minnesota probably spit out their teeth when the Eagles picked Reagor instead of Jefferson. I guess time will tell 🙂

 

They probably did, Jefferson is a better fit for what they need so they are probably higher on him. 

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3 hours ago, Perforator said:

Baldy said on WIP yesterday the first 3 picks were "projects" and it looked like an analytics draft.

Project vs what, "can't miss"?  I'd argue there are very few can't miss prospects in any given draft.  When making your selection there are so many factors that play into the eventual success of any prospect including being the right fit for the system/scheme being run and the kind of coaching they will need/get.  It's really hard to say what kind of coaching Reagor will get since we have a new position coach.  And hard to know how the scheme will change with all the new hires on the offensive coaching staff that will be involved in game planning and play design.  At this point all we can do is hope for the best.  

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I think Reagor was a solid choice at #21. Ruggs was long gone, and a guy behind D-Jax on the depth chart for when he goes down was a must. They got that guy and while Desean is healthy, they can field both at the same time, so that's good. I really wanted Duvernay in the 3rd but the #85 pick was gone due to the Slay trade, which was caused by that bust of a pick Sidney Jones.

I dislike that soft as silken tofu PAC-12 puss-puss, and I dislike Howie for picking that soft as silken tofu PAC-12 puss-puss...but I digress...sorry.

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On 4/29/2020 at 3:34 AM, Lemonphosphate said:

I think Lamb went to the right place.  The closer he got to being drafted the more diva-ish attitude I saw leak out.  I'm starting to wonder if he will be able to handle fame and money.  I might be totally imagining this but it caught my attention.

He does have that all too familiar diva WR vibe.  Not much, but eerily similar to what other diva WR's were like coming out.  Reagor is a guy you automatically fall in love with when he interviews.  I am very happy with the pick and think he will be a consistent low end #1/deep threat for us.  I got him in the 55-75 rec range with a13-15 ypc.   I fully expect 2-3 1K yd seasons over the next 8.

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3 hours ago, PoconoDon said:

I think Reagor was a solid choice at #21. Ruggs was long gone, and a guy behind D-Jax on the depth chart for when he goes down was a must. They got that guy and while Desean is healthy, they can field both at the same time, so that's good.

Also, Reagor immediately becomes a threat as a punt returner --- something we have lacked without a healthy (or younger for that matter) Sproles.

What I really like about Reagor is he is no slouch fighting for contested passes. He has a tremendous vertical leap and times his jumps very well. He tracks the ball in the air almost as well as DJax. He's also a little thicker than DJax which makes him a bit harder to bring down as well. He's not a liability  running routes either. 

During the draft, I was really hoping for Jefferson and I thought for sure we were picking him. Initially I was disappointed, but the decision to choose Reagor over Jefferson helps us in more ways I believe. We'll have to find ways to get Jalen on the field more and more every week. He may not end up being offensive rookie of the year, but I am confident he will be the guy that replaces DJax when the time comes. Reagor is a lot more ready to step in and help this team than JJAW was last season. One other benefit is that he could afford Jackson more rest which, in theory, would lessen the risk of injury to him. All I really care about is we get that aspect of our offense back. 

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Sometimes fit can cost you a better prospect.

I think this sums up nicely my feeling on the decision to pass on Jefferson to go with Reagor.  JJ was the much safer prospect and much more highly rated (although Reagor does bring the much needed speed we needed at the position).  But as Smith pointed out, history tells us it’s tricky drafting wide receivers in the first round, so time will tell if we made the right decision.  My biggest concern relates to his hands (I sure hope the high drop rate is a result of poor QB play - if that can be remedied I'll feel much better about this pick).  Anyway, now in the hands of the coaches to coach him up properly and effectively design plays to get the most out of him.  

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