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Nick Sirianni's favorite receiver from Indy signs with Eagles

 

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Eagles on Monday signed free agent wide receiver Zach Pascal.

Pascal, 27, is a long-time favorite of Nick Sirianni, who spent the 2018 through 2020 seasons with Pascal in Indianapolis and often spoke in glowing terms about Pascal while sharing his long-ish stories of his Colts days with the Philly media.

"I know I’ve said this before and I tell Zach this and the guys make fun of me when I say this, but I want my sons to play football like Zach Pascal,” Sirianni told the Indianapolis Star after the 2020 season. "I hope he knows that is the biggest honor I could give him right there is to say that because I want them to be all the things Zach Pascal is.”

Terms of the one-year deal weren’t immediately available.

Pascal had 150 catches for 1,888 yards and 15 touchdowns with a 12.6 average in four years with the Colts, who originally signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion, where he played alongside Travis Fulgham in 2015 and 2016. He’s also considered one of the better blocking receivers in the league.

It’s not the blockbuster free agent signing Eagles fans have been clamoring for, but assuming the Eagles draft at least one receiver Pascal projects as WR4 behind DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and a rookie.

Pascal started out his Colts career as a special teamer before working his way into the offense late in his rookie year.

In his best years, Pascal had 41 catches for 607 yards and five TDs in 2020 playing with Jacoby Brissett and 44-for-629 and five TDs in 2020 playing with Philip Rivers. He was one of only 10 receivers to catch at least 40 passes and average over 14 yards per catch in both 2019 and 2020.

Last year, with Carson Wentz as his QB and Sirianni no longer on the Colts’ coaching staff, he dropped to 38 catches for 384 yards and three TDs.

One thing this signing does is bump Jalen Reagor down to WR4 at best behind Smith, Watkins and Pascal.

In addition to Smith, Watkins, Pascal and Reagor, the Eagles also have J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward, John Hightower and Deon Cain on the roster.

And at 27 and going into his fifth year, Pascal becomes the Eagles’ oldest and most experienced Eagles wide receiver, a designation previously held by the 26-year-old Ward.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/nfl-free-agency-2022-eagles-sign-nick-sirianni-favorite-zach-pascal

Look we still need to add at WR there's no doubt. And Pascal may not even end up making the roster. But I'll take it. Anything to add something at WR and push Reagor down the charts.

6 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Look we still need to add at WR there's no doubt. And Pascal may not even end up making the roster. But I'll take it. Anything to add something at WR and push Reagor down the charts.

I’m picturing:

DeVonta Smith

Alec Pierce/Christian Watson/George Pickens/Jalen Tolbert/etc  

Quez Watkins

Zach Pascal

Jalen Reagor

Greg Ward or other WR who wins camp competition

 

Ideally I’d want a big X and a slot specialist in the draft with return ability like Khalil Shakir, Skyy Moore, Calvin Austin, Kyle Phillips but I don’t see them drafting two wideouts this year. 

3 hours ago, Outlaw said:

I’m picturing:

DeVonta Smith

Alec Pierce/Christian Watson/George Pickens/Jalen Tolbert/etc  

Quez Watkins

Zach Pascal

Jalen Reagor

Greg Ward or other WR who wins camp competition

 

Ideally I’d want a big X and a slot specialist in the draft with return ability like Khalil Shakir, Skyy Moore, Calvin Austin, Kyle Phillips but I don’t see them drafting two wideouts this year. 

I'd swap Reagor and Ward but yeah I see your point there bud. In fact I'd like to see Reagor gone but that's unlikely. 

And yeah I'm not seeing them drafting 2 WRs. I mean if they do then it'll be mid to late round picks I think. 

10 hours ago, Outlaw said:

I’m picturing:

DeVonta Smith

Alec Pierce/Christian Watson/George Pickens/Jalen Tolbert/etc  

Quez Watkins

Zach Pascal

Jalen Reagor

Greg Ward or other WR who wins camp competition

 

Ideally I’d want a big X and a slot specialist in the draft with return ability like Khalil Shakir, Skyy Moore, Calvin Austin, Kyle Phillips but I don’t see them drafting two wideouts this year. 

I'm starting to get on board with a Round 2 or 3 WR now as well.  Alec Pierce is my choice out of any non-round 1 WR and would feel just as good about getting him as I would with taking any of the Round 1 guys.

8 minutes ago, EaglesAddict said:

I'm starting to get on board with a Round 2 or 3 WR now as well.  Alec Pierce is my choice out of any non-round 1 WR and would feel just as good about getting him as I would with taking any of the Round 1 guys.

My #1 offensive want in the draft.

11 hours ago, Outlaw said:

I’m picturing:

DeVonta Smith

Alec Pierce/Christian Watson/George Pickens/Jalen Tolbert/etc  

Quez Watkins

Zach Pascal

Jalen Reagor

Greg Ward or other WR who wins camp competition

I think you might have hit the nail on the head. Unless we make trades for more picks I can only see 1 WR coming in the draft.

I would think they only keep 5 receivers. That would mean Reagor gets cut and we save some cap $'s. 

1 hour ago, EaglesAddict said:

I'm starting to get on board with a Round 2 or 3 WR now as well.  Alec Pierce is my choice out of any non-round 1 WR and would feel just as good about getting him as I would with taking any of the Round 1 guys.

Rounds 2 & 3 is where good evaluators draft their WRs

30 minutes ago, weko said:

Rounds 2 & 3 is where good evaluators draft their WRs

Yep!  Good thing we have Howie...no doubt he will find that stud in round 2 or 3:ph34r:

Bottom line - he's not Juju, Woods, or Robinson, but he's better than Reagor. It's an upgrade that will help, but not push us to the top of the heap. 

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