Eagles Convinced TCU’s Speedy Jalen Reagor Will Answer Their Wide Receiver Prayers

The debate is already underway.  

In fact it started even before Commissioner Roger Goodell stunned most Eagles fans by announcing with the 21^st pick in the NFL Draft the reigning NFC East champions had selected TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor.

They wondered how could general manager Howie Roseman take a guy who wasn’t even a first round pick in most mock drafts?  Why didn’t they go for Joe Burrow’s favorite target, LSU’s Justin Jefferson, he of the 111 catches for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns?  And how could they allow Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb to slip to the hated Cowboys? Surely there should’ve been a way to trade just a few spots to grab the player they were most enamored of.

While the questions are coming fast and furious right now, getting the answers will take longer.  But clearly this is who the Eagles wanted, despite the fact his 2019 numbers  (43 catches for 611 yards and five scores) pale in comparison to not only Jefferson, but receivers like Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk (65-1,192-8), Clemson’s Tee Higgins (59-1,167-13) and Baylor’s Denzel Mims (66-1,020-12). 

So then what made the 5-11, 206 lb. junior from Waxahachie, TX, whose father, Montae, played on the defensive line for the 2007 Eagles at the tail end of a nine-year career, the preferred pick over all the rest at 21?  According to both Roseman and Eagles’ coach Doug Pederson Reagor’s speed and 42 inch vertical jump, were the telling factors.

“We knew there were a lot of talented receivers out there, but felt this is one who could help our team in multiple ways,” explained Roseman of the 21-year-old Reagor, who was clocked at 4.47 in the 40 at the NFL Combine to go with that 42 inch vertical jump, but reportedly ran 4.32 in his unofficial pro day. “Jalen fits as an explosive guy who has a great skill set.

“We talked about our desire to add some speed. Jalen does that.  His ability to contribute as a receiver, as a returner, to be explosive with the ball in his hands were all things that we were looking for.

“You see the separation on tape. Those things are hard to find;. guys who can separate as an outside vertical receiver.

“That really fits our quarterback’s skill set. Our quarterback (Carson Wentz) likes to throw the ball downfield. And Jalen’s run at a really high level in games.”

Yet Pederson cautions not to expect too much too soon from the kid who racked up 72 catches for 1061 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018—and also returned two punts to the house—when he was named second team All-Big 12.  The disparity between then and last season has largely been attributed to a drop-off in TCU’s quarterback play, which led to such visible frustration on his part it caused Reagor to drop on some draft boards. 

“We’re in a strange time right now, “ said Pederson, who—like Roseman and vice-president of player personnel, Andy Weidl—participated in the draft from his home due to the coronavirus lockdown. “With a chance of not having an off-season and really getting into the playbook until possibly training camp, that will be the first time that we get our hands on these players.

 “But we’re excited about the player and getting him in the building to see where he fits in the offense. Number one, because of the speed. He can definitely stretch the field. And with his vertical he can elevate. But we still have to get him in the fold, have him learn the playbook and the system and see where he best fits us.”

As Roseman suggested though, Wentz should be thrilled to have a weapon with such explosive potential, especially coming off a season where no Eagle wide receiver reached 500 yards.  While on the surface Reagor may remind some of DeSean Jackson, who’ll be coming off a season in which he played only one full game, his scouting report suggests he should be a lot more durable. 

Still, Eagles fans, many of whom had no idea who the guy was, seemed distraught, especially after Roseman wasn’t able to move up five spots to get Lamb before Jerry Jones could gleefully snatch him away. 

“We’re very aggressive in working the phones and having conversations with teams, trying to figure out where and when we can move,” said Roseman, who’ll have second (53) and third (103) round picks at his disposal when the draft resumes tonight, pending any deals.  “It’s gotta work for both sides, obviously.

“But we were also very comfortable sitting here and taking a player that has a great skill set for what we were looking for.”

Ironically, it’s only the third time in the first round since he’s been calling the shots Roseman elected to stand pat. Other than Lane Johnson (No. 4, 2013) and Derek Barnett (No. 14, 2017)  the Eagles have either traded up (Brandon Graham No. 10, 2010, Fletcher Cox No. 12, 2012, Wentz No. 2, 2016, Andre Dillard No. 22, 2019) or down (Danny Watkins No. 23, 2011, Marcus Smith No. 26, 2014),    

Now having filled an obvious need right off the bat, what’s next?  Well, there’s any number of ways the Eagles could go with their next two picks: cornerback, safety, linebacker, edge pass rusher, offensive line being the most obvious. 

But there’s also a chance they could do something unexpected, like trade for Jacksonville’s disgruntled defensive end, Yannick Ngakoue, whose trade value has plummeted since he got into a Twitter war with Tony Khan, son of team owner Shahid Khan. As soon as the Jags placed a $17.8 million franchise on him the 25-year-old Ngakoue said he wanted out.

While coach Doug Marrone insists he wants a player who’s compiled 37.5 sacks in four years back, offering a second round pick and maybe something in 2021 be enough to force their hand, since they already know Ngakoue won’t be signing an extension.

At least Roseman, with eight picks remaining even after trading a No. 3 and 5 for Lions’ Pro Bowl cornerback, has that and other options. That wasn’t the case the past two drafts, where he had only five picks apiece.

As for Reagor, he’s simply thrilled to join an organization that paid a lot of attention to him leading up to the Draft. He’s also does not lack in confidence.

“I don’t look to match myself up against anyone or compare stats or do any of that,” said Reagor when asked how he’ll stack up next to all those standout receivers in this Draft class, six of whom went in the first round. “To be honest, I feel like I’m just the most versatile. I can do everything.

“I feel like I haven’t even gotten close to my ceiling. You know, I can play any position. I feel like I’m a great vertical threat. I can run any route. I’m an electric player and ]I’ll make an immediate impact when given the chance.”

With that, let the great debate that’s sure to go on for at least the next couple of years, proceed.