Philadelphia Eagles Should Let WR Jeremy Maclin Go To FA Following 2013

When you look at the numbers, Philadelphia Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin is just a few more bad seasons away from becoming another completely unworthy first-round draft pick.

It is hard to refer to Maclin as a bust considering he has put up numbers that are adequate enough to fill the shoes of any NFL team’s number two wide-out.

But when a wide receiver is drafted in the first round, like Maclin was in the 2009 NFL Draft, he is expected to make an immediate impact while quickly emerging as a premiere receiving threat. In Maclin’s case, he has yet to even compile 1,000 receiving yards in any of his four professional seasons.

Maclin’s selection at 19th overall actually came much later than expected, as he was widely expected to go in the top 10 picks after an incredible career at the University of Missouri.

In just two years at Mizzou, Maclin was selected for the AP All-American team following each campaign, and was even considered a Heisman Trophy hopeful early in his final 2008 season. He also shattered numerous school records and NCAA records as a receiver and as a return-man.

So it is easy to see why Eagles’ fans are so disappointed in Maclin’s production after he was expected to develop into a dominant wide receiver early in his NFL career.

Prior to the 2012 season, the Eagles signed Maclin’s receiving counterpart, two-time Pro Bowl WR DeSean Jackson, to a very generous 5-year, $51 million contract. This move by the Eagles made it obvious that Jackson is the guy that they want leading their receiving core into battle, as opposed to Maclin who becomes a free agent following the upcoming 2013 season.

The Eagles also do not have enough cap space to worry about signing Maclin to a likely expensive deal, when they have so many other positions to address with much greater urgency.

In all, it is safe to say that it is both financially sound and downright logical for the Eagles to let Maclin skip town in 2014, so he can pursue other NFL opportunities.

 

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