This past season, one-time NFL quarterback and former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson took over as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Off a 7-9 showing the previous year, mostly under Chip Kelly (who was let go with one game to play in ’15), these new-look Birds got off to a 3-0 start with their new sideline leader and rookie quarterback Carson Wentz – the second overall pick in the draft. But soon things changed, and the Eagles were clipped, dropping nine of their final 13 games. Philadelphia finished last in the NFC East and was the only team in the division to post a losing record (7-9).
Still, this is a team headed in the right direction. But could one of the club’s better players be headed elsewhere?
New-look wide receiving corps
In 2016, the offensive unit of the Philadelphia Eagles totaled just 32 touchdowns in 16 regular-season contests. There were 16 via the ground and 16 more through the air. Pederson’s squad amassed 92 points and ten offensive TDs during its undefeated start. And the Birds also didn’t commit a turnover in those first three games. But all’s not really well when it ends with only 22 such touchdowns during the Eagles’ 4-9 start. Wentz threw only 16 TD passes for the season, and the wide receiving corps proved to be a big-time disappointment.
Hence the free-agent signings of Torrey Smith (San Francisco 49ers) and Alshon Jeffery (Chicago Bears), the drafting of Mack Hollins (4-North Carolina) and Shelton Gibson (5-West Virginia) and the release of Dorial Green-Beckham.
The veterans such as Smith and Jeffery give Wentz a lot of experience and should make life a lot easier for slot receivers Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor. But will be both wideouts be with the club this season?
Where could Matthews go?
To our knowledge, Matthews is not on the trading block. But the team’s most reliable wide receiver has seemingly now taken a back seat to Agholor when it comes to the inside passing game.
The latter has been a disappointment since being a first-round selection in 2015. Now he’s enjoying quite the offseason and may have grabbed Matthews’ job. Nick Fierro of the Morning Call (based in Allentown, PA) feels it would be a mistake to part ways with the 25-year-old performer and with good reason. He's been a positive for a team coming off back-to-back losing campaigns. The Philadelphia Eagles still have a lot of young players at the position and Matthews could prove extremely beneficial to their growth.
