Former first-round pick Jalen Reagor is generating trade interest around the league. And it just might be that time for the Eagles to let go of the guy they originally thought would add value to the team.
Philadelphia selected the standout from Texas Christian University with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Reagor signed a four-year $13.3 million contract, missing give games after suffering from a ligament tear in his thumb. He finished his rookie year with 31 receptions for 396 yards, one receiving touchdown, and one touchdown on a punt return.
The following season turned out to be a bigger disappointment after dropped passes (including a touchdown) and lost yardage. With another 31 receptions, Reagor finished with 280 total yards and two touchdowns in 16 games.
As it stands, the Eagles have nine wide receivers on their depth chart. DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins are locks. Despite Philadelphia not tendering Greg Ward, he signed a new one-year deal with the team in March. The Eagles also signed Zach Pascal to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. So where does that leave Reagor?
Ultimately Reagor would be competing for WR4 (against Zach Pascal) or WR5 (against J.J. Arcega-Whiteside). Arcega-Whiteside, who was a second-round pick in 2019, just barely made the roster last season. He returned to the Eagles on special teams and didn’t do half bad, but the likelihood of Reagor duplicating JJAW’s gameplay is slim.
Reagor is set to have the 17th highest cap number on the 2022 roster at $3.62 million. If the Eagles trade him prior to June 1, they would inherit his salary as dead money. If they trade him after June 1, Philadelphia would clear $1.8 million in cap space with $1.8 million in dead money spread throughout 2023.
According to Geoff Mosher, there is interest in Reagor around the NFL.
Mosher stated, “The cap hit is considerably less for the Eagles if they trade Reagor than releasing him. Other teams will be interested in acquiring Reagor. Sources have told Inside The Birds that teams have already called to check on the third-year receiver’s availability. The optics of having Reagor reporting to OTAs or training camp buried deep down the depth chart wouldn’t be great, for Reagor and for the franchise They’d be worse if Reagor remained on the roster headed into the season. Any change Reagor has at rescuing his career would have to come elsewhere.”
High draft pick or not, Reagor has failed to produce in Philadelphia. A fresh start would be a win-win for both parties.
