2019 Eagles roster preview: DeSean Jackson, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside are the big changes at wide receiver; no changes at tight end

The Eagles made wide receiver a priority position this offseason. The big move was trading for DeSean Jackson, who remains one of the NFL’s elite deep threats at age 32.

by Zach Berman

Published May 9, 2019, 10:24 a.m. ET

This is the third of an eight-part series previewing the Eagles’ roster before organized team activities begin on May 21.

Here is the schedule:

Wide receiver

Who’s back: Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins, Shelton Gibson (Braxton Miller, Dorren Miller from practice squad)

Alshon Jeffery returns for his third season with the Eagles after recording 65 catches for 843 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games last season. The season did not end as it did the previous year – Jeffery dropped a pass on a potential go-ahead drive in the postseason loss to the Saints – but he’s a proven No. 1 wide receiver who has made clutch plays in an Eagles uniform.

There was uncertainty about whether Nelson Agholor would return because his fifth-year option costs the Eagles $9.387 million this season, but they kept him on the roster and will count on him as a big part of the offense. Agholor had a career-high 64 catches last season, although his yardage took a slight dip (from 768 to 736) and he went from eight touchdowns to four touchdowns. Agholor will remain the Eagles’ slot receiver this season and will have more help on the outside. Top executive Howie Roseman called Agholor “an important part of our football team.” Coach Doug Pederson vouched for Agholor this offseason and remarked how the trade for Golden Tate affected Agholor, whose role adjusted while the coaching staff tried to acclimate Tate.

“Love this guy,” Pederson said. “He’s the first one in and the last one out. He’s a hard worker. Spends time before and after practice. Can’t say enough good things about Nelson Agholor and what he’s brought to the table and what he will continue to bring. I think last year, you look at the amount of guys we had, and then we added Golden [Tate] midseason. I’m not going to stand up here and say it didn’t affect Nelson. I think it did. …He was a huge part of what we did … I’m excited, I love working with him.”

Behind those two, the Eagles didn’t bring back established receivers from last season. Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson return for their their third seasons, but neither has distinguished himself. Hollins missed all of last season with a groin injury. It was a lost season for the 2017 fourth-round pick, who was expected to help the offense. Gibson never emerged as an offensive threat last season despite all the injuries at the position.

Braxton Miller and Dorren Miller are back from the practice squad and will try to compete for depth spots. Neither player was with the Eagles last offseason, so this will be their first spring and summer with the team.

Who’s new: DeSean Jackson, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Charles Johnson, Carlton Agudosi, Johnny Holton, Marken Michel, Greg Ward.

The Eagles made wide receiver a priority position this offseason. The big move was trading for DeSean Jackson, who remains one of the NFL’s elite deep threats at age 32. That’s the role he’s expected to fill. The Eagles never had that type of player last season after Mike Wallace’s injury, and they saw what Torrey Smith’s presence provided to the offense in 2017. Jackson must stay on the field – he hasn’t played a 16-game season since departing Philadelphia – and the Eagles need to hope there’s no speed regression. He led the NFL last season with 18.9 yards per catch, including a 75-yard touchdown against the Eagles. The Eagles need that big-play element back in their offense.

“I think he’ll bring a dynamic aspect to our offense,” quarterback Carson Wentz said. “Whether he’s catching balls during the game or whether he’s opening things up underneath, I’m really excited to have him.”

Then the Eagles followed up in the draft by taking J.J. Arcega-Whiteside in the second round. The pick was a long-term play, considering there’s uncertainty about the 2020 and 2021 depth chart at wide receiver, but Arcega-Whiteside can contribute this year. He should have a role in the red zone, where his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame and ability to win contested catches will be valued.

The other additions are roster hopefuls. Charles Johnson has legitimate NFL experience, including 17 starts and 60 catches. He impressed in the now-defunct AAF. Greg Ward was on the Eagles practice squad when they won the Super Bowl.

The Eagles are also expected to sign undrafted wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins before Friday’s rookie minicamp. He can try to help in the return game.

Who’s gone: Mike Wallace, Golden Tate, Jordan Matthews

The Eagles’ reshuffled wide receiver corps included letting three established players leave this offseason. Wallace didn’t record a catch for the Eagles, missing the season after a Week 2 foot injury. That took the Eagles’ best deep threat out of the lineup. He has not signed elsewhere.

Matthews joined the roster one week later and quietly contributed in his second stint with the Eagles, with 20 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns. He signed with San Francisco.

The Eagles acquired Tate at midseason, sacrificing a third-round pick to bring him to the offense. It was not an easy fit, and the Eagles never figured out how to maximize Tate, but he caught a game-winning touchdown against Chicago in the playoffs. Tate signed a lucrative deal with the New York Giants in March, so the Eagles will see him twice a year.

Roster competitions: Jeffery, Jackson, Agholor, and Arcega-Whiteside will all be on the roster. Hollins is the frontrunner to be the No. 5 wide receiver if there are no lingering problems from the injury. He can contribute on special teams and showed flashes in 2017 with his downfield ability. It’s too early to determine whether the Eagles keep five or six wide receivers; special teams and depth at other positions will be factors, as well as preseason injuries. This is a make-or-break year for Gibson with the Eagles.

Tight end

Who’s back: Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers; Joshua Perkins (Will Tye from practice squad)

The Eagles are set at tight end, where Zach Ertz has become one of the elite players at the position in the NFL after setting a franchise record with 116 catches. At 28, Ertz is in the prime of his career and has a strong connection with Carson Wentz. It might be too much to expect the same volume from last year, but there’s no reason Ertz shouldn’t remain a Pro Bowler capable of reaching All-Pro honors.

Dallas Goedert, the 2018 second-round pick, showed promise as a rookie with 33 catches for 334 yards and four touchdowns. He played only 48 percent of the offensive snaps and the Eagles must find a way to get him more involved in the offense. The coaches have spent time this offseason looking into maximizing the Goedert and Ertz in two-tight end sets.

“When you have a number of sort of targets on offense, it becomes a challenge, it becomes a challenge to get everybody the ball,” Pederson said at the combine. “Then you gotta include your running backs. And yet we still found ways to get him involved. I think that’s gonna be a source of topic for us as a coaching staff moving forward. He’s a big piece to our success.”

The Eagles re-signed Rodgers even though he wasn’t much of a factor during an injury-plagued season. But he’s an experienced tight end who can catch and play special teams. For a No. 3 tight end, they could do much worse.

Perkins and Tye could be on the outside looking in unless the Eagles went deeper at the position or if there’s an injury this summer But my guess is they use three tight ends.