Since the Eagles missed out on some big-name players in free agency, they are going to be looking to the NFL draft to bolster their receiving core.
One reason the Eagles need to take this draft seriously is that their last first-round draft pick for a wide receiver Nelson Agholor (who is now on the Las Vegas Raiders) was a rollercoaster of emotional pain for Eagles fans after realizing his block hands couldn't catch anything.
There are some excellent draft prospects to choose from in the upcoming draft, as this draft class is considered one of the deepest wide receiver classes in history. Carson Wentz deserves better than what he has available on the current roster, so I'm going to break down three of the best that the Birds better be gunning for to help bolster the receiving core.
Henry Ruggs III
I feel as though he will still be available in the mid-first round of the draft. The Birds have a the 21st overall pick, which just works out perfectly along with how perfectly Ruggs would fit into the Eagles scheme. Ruggs is a vertical threat that has the speed to open up the field for Wentz, which was what the Birds were lacking last year after vertical threat DeSean Jackson went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2.
The speedster had 40 receptions in 2019 with a total of 746 yards and managed to get seven touchdowns. If the Eagles would have had Ruggs on last year's team, he still would have been their best wide receiver. When you have Jerry Jeudy on the other side of you, it's hard to get in the most receptions possible, but on the Eagles that wouldn't be an issue for Ruggs anymore. Take a look at his highlight reel and dream about what could be in that midnight green.
Ceedee Lamb
Lamb would be a fantastic addition to the Eagles, but they would have to find a way to trade up for him. If they could manage to acquire him, he would likely be the most productive receiver they could get from this bunch. There's no doubt he will be on everyone's radar with the speed and talent he brings on the field; he is going to be a shoo-in for the Rookie of the Year Award. Though this would be a dream come true, I don't see this working in Eagle's favor to be able to draft this prospect. Still, it is fun to imagine and think about the trade up possibility.
Lamb's stats say it all -- 62 receptions for 1,327-yards with 14 touchdowns; it is no wonder why this young playmaker will be taken early in the first-round. Carson Wentz would without a doubt have the best season of his career if #2 came to Philadelphia. It might be a tease, but just take a look at Lamb and imagine how he would look in an Eagles jersey.
Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy has good speed, but his arm length and hand size are what make him stand out. His talent level is up there with Lamb, but there is a slim chance he will be around until the middle of the first round for the Eagles to trade out for. He will earn the respect of defenses across the league in his first year with his playmaking abilities.
Jeudy stats show him as a consistent receiver, with 77 receptions for 1,163-yards and 10 touchdowns. There's no doubt he would be Carson Wentz's new go-to target. Let's take a look at this young playmaker doing what he does best, even if it may likely never be done in Philadelphia.
Tee Higgins
He won't be as productive in his first year like the other three players I have named, but Higgins can become an excellent receiver if given the time to adjust to the NFL. He reminds me a lot of Cincinnati Bengals star receiver AJ Green with his combined size and speed. He is coming from Clemson, which has been known to produce some of the better receivers currently in the game (DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins, Mike Williams). I would not be mad if he was the receiver the Eagles are "stuck" taking at #21.
With the Eagles receiving core situation being the way it is, they need a rookie who can contribute right away and prove he is worth the investment. There's a lot of talent between all these prospects that would bring another element to the offense, but out of all these prospects named, Henry Ruggs still seems to be the Eagle's best option for their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Wentz needs a reliable speed threat, and the chemistry from those two, if they were paired up, would light up Lincoln Financial Field.
