Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier in this year’s 2013 NFL off-season, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to add some more size to their receiving core by trading for WR Arrelious Benn, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But in reality, the Eagles could be forced to let go of one of their bulkier wide receivers in order to make room for Benn on their depth chart. Aside from WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, who will obviously man the starting jobs for the Birds, the Eagles currently house backup WRs Jason Avant, Riley Cooper, Damaris Johnson, Marvin McNutt and Benn.
While Jackson, Maclin and Johnson are all pint-sized speedsters who rely on their elusive in the open-field to make plays, Avant and Cooper more-so rely on their physicality to separate themselves from opposing defensive backs. Coincidentally, Been is the same type of physical wide receiver, so if he is able to produce at a higher level than the other two, at least half of the duo could be forced to find new jobs.
I would also not be surprised if head coach Chip Kelly and the Eagles target some sort of slot receiver in the 2013 NFL Draft (i.e. West Virginia University WR Tavon Austin), who fits the mold for Kelly’s up-tempo, incredibly fast-paced spread offense. If the Eagles do decide to draft a new wide-out relatively high, this will leave even less room for receivers on the Birds’ roster.
I strongly doubt that the Eagles would let go of Johnson, who was a rookie last season, because of the limitless potential that the former University of Tulsa stand-out has shown.
When the 2013 regular season kicks off this fall, I am certainly confident in saying that Cooper or Avant will no longer be members of the Eagles.
Please follow Joe on Twitter @EaglesRant for all Eagles/NFL insight.
