Getty Images
To say that Jordan Matthews came to the Philadelphia Eagles with lofty expectations would be an understatement. Fresh off the release of DeSean Jackson, Matthews was taken in the second round of the 2014 draft to pick up some of Jackson’s slack and make everyone forget about the mysterious disappearance of Riley Cooper. And 872 yards and eight touchdowns later, Matthews did exactly that. He looks the part of a solid playmaker who should really take off in 2015.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 212 pounds, Matthews is a refreshing departure from the average-to-smaller sized receivers the Eagles have trotted out in recent years. Physically, Matthews plays the part of a reliable possession receiver — he’s meticulous with his route running and technique. To go along with his height advantage, Matthews is also a tremendous leaper and competitor in jump ball situations, making him a great red zone threat. His days in college were spent as a high-volume target, so consistency usually isn’t a problem. He also has good catching ability, with only a rare drop here and there if he over-concentrates.
But perhaps the trait Eagles fans love most about Matthews is his work ethic. To be honest, I haven’t heard of any receiver the Eagles have had lately work as hard as Matthews. I mean, even in walkthrough practices, Matthews takes his passes into the end zone at full sprint. I know that seems like a minor thing, but things like that speak volumes to his attitude and his dedication to his craft. Philly is a blue-collar town that respects hustle, and Matthews will remain a fan favorite for a long time.
Now that Jeremy Maclin took his show on down the road, Matthews is expected to be the top wide receiver on the Eagles’ depth chart. As such, he’s not going to have a whole lot of competition for targets. Perhaps his biggest threat will be players like Zach Ertz, Josh Huff or Nelson Agholor — guys who will occasionally line up in the slot where Matthews projects to stay. But the beauty of Chip Kelly’s offense is in the wrinkles, so even though Matthews may have to kick outside on certain formations, he’ll still be an early read through Sam Bradford’s progressions. And once the ball is inside the red zone, Matthews is going to be the top target.
Given his skills, his production last year and his increased comfort in the offense, I’m expecting a big year out of Matthews. I can easily see him coming in at around 85 catches, 1,200 yards and 10-plus touchdowns. Regardless of who lines up under center, be it Bradford or Mark Sanchez, Matthews will still get his no matter what. He’s going to be the next Eagle wide receiver to put up monster stats, and with that he should cement himself as a top receiver in the league.
Doug Green is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com covering the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL. Follow him on Twitter @DGreenNFL.
