Fansided

10 leading candidates for rookie of the year

By Andrew Garda

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view as the Tennessee Titans make their pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view as the Tennessee Titans make their pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 1, 2014; Pullman, WA, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Nelson Agholor (15) heads up field in the second quarter against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Pullman, WA, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Nelson Agholor (15) heads up field in the second quarter against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Well, if it’s good enough for ESPN’s Todd McShay, it should be good for us, right?

Well, maybe that is enough to put you off Agholor instead. In which case, let’s look at the fourth receiver to come off the board in the 2015 NFL Draft.

We know he’ll get plenty of targets, given how this the depth chart is for the Philadelphia Eagles at receiver. Riley Cooper? Austin Miles? Josh Huff? These are not the wide receivers dreams are made of.

Jordan Matthews is his major competition, and there’s a good chance Matthews won’t really be the No. 1 receiver, as it is a role that doesn’t play to his strengths. So even if Matthews gets significant targets, so will Agholor.

With Demarco Murray and Ryan Mathews in the backfield (as well as Darren Sproles), defenses will be unable to key on the passing game and pin the quarterbacks ears back with blitzes.

Of course, the quarterback is a whole other issue. Sam Bradford has never been the healthiest of quarterbacks and even when he has been healthy, his play has been hit or miss. For Agoholor to succeed, Bradford needs to be both healthy and effective. While the offensive line in Philadelphia is far better than what he had in St. Louis, he has a penchant for injury.

Behind him is the not-quite-murderer’s-row of Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow. Sanchez filled in ably for Nick Foles last season, but continues to struggle reading defenses, while Barkley clearly has more work to do in order to be ready to start. Tebow is a mystery – he may not even make the final roster – and we don’t know how much he’s improved, if he has at all.

So if Bradford goes down – and history says he very well might – Agholor could have a hard time standing out from the crowd.

Next: Vic Beasley, DE, Atlanta Falcons

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