5 reasons Alshon Jeffery signing is good for Eagles
By Ian O'Brien
Alshon Jeffery will be a dangerous weapon for the Philadelphia Eagles, and they will be glad they gave Carson Wentz a much-needed wide receiver.
The Philadelphia Eagles have announced they will sign Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. The former Chicago Bears receiver will sign a one-year, $14 million contract. The Eagles also agreed to a three-year, $15 million deal with former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith earlier.
Jeffery did not receive a hefty contract right off the bat due to his recent baggage. He has underachieved the past two seasons while receiving a suspension in 2016. The 27-year-old receiver had to sit out for four games of last season after testing positive for PEDs.
Despite lowering his desirability in free agency, Jeffery’s upside cannot be denied. This is best exemplified by his 2013 season. He caught 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns while benefiting from single coverage across from Brandon Marshall. Jeffery followed that season up with a career-high 10 touchdown catches in 2014 while adding 1,133 receiving yards.
The departure of Marshall to the New York Jets made Jeffery the Bears’ leading receiver. While he led the Bears in catches in 2015, his production dipped and decreased his free-agent value somewhat since he never recovered in 2016. Dealing with hamstring and knee injuries certainly didn’t help matters. The Eagles are sure to be thrilled with this signing, though. Here are five reasons why the Eagles made a good move in signing Jeffery.
5. The Eagles can just let Jeffery walk if he disappoints
Signing Alshon Jeffery is definitely a high-risk move for the Eagles considering his past. His injury history and PED suspension are exactly why the Eagles did not dive right into giving him a blockbuster contract. They could not afford to even if they wanted to, though. The Eagles rank 29th in the NFL in cap space with only $13.3 million to spare.
Since Jeffery is only receiving a one-year deal, it can be argued that this is a medium-risk deal at worst. It remains to be seen how motivated Jeffery will be in a new environment. While leaving the Bears is certainly favorable for any player who wants to win, the Eagles remain in rebuilding mode.
Young quarterback Carson Wentz enters his second year in the NFL, and he will look to build on a somewhat promising rookie season. If Jeffery can produce like he did at his best in Chicago, he will easily be Wentz’s best weapon since the Eagles drafted him.