For this installment of the Eagles’ offseason checklist, we’ll take a look at the wide receiver position.
Calling Philadelphia WR-crazed town would be an understatement. For years, the fans have been tormented by the likes of Todd Pinkston, Na Brown, Freddie Mitchell, James Thrash and Charles Johnson. And if the city has felt frustration, imagine how often Donovan McNabb has banged his head against the wall in bewilderment.
The common refrain from the front office is that the West Coast offense is about spreading the ball around and there is no need for a standout WR. Tell that to Jerry Rice.
This WR purgatory is what shapes the psyche of the Philadelphia Eagles fan when it comes to evaluating the talent at the WR position. But this season, the Eagles emerged from the depths of that purgatory to compile a productive and deep WR corps—one that was missing possibly its best player in Kevin Curtis for much of the year. Much of this production can be attributed to the rapid ascension of DeSean Jackson. Jackson finished the year with 62 receptions for 912 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, Jackson was the most consistent threat the Eagles had at the WR possession and the only one the opposing team had to gameplan for.
As the postseason dragged on, Kevin Curtis began to show flashes of his former self. Next season, Jackson and Curtis will provide a formidable duo on the outside. Jason Avant too developed into a reliable slot receiver and third-down threat. His development in that role only stands to improve. Hank Baskett has all of the raw talent in the world but seems to struggle in putting it all together. He showed flashes of his ability but failed to provide that big target at WR that this team so desperately needed. Greg Lewis has accomplished more than anyone would have imagined with his skill set, but he has some serious limitations that make him only passable at the NFL level.
So where do you go to improve? If you listen to the media and some of the fan base, it would seem 
this is the Eagles biggest need. It is not. In fact, it is one of the more stable positions on the roster. If the Eagles stood pat in the offseason and went into the next season with the same stable of receivers it would not be a glaring weakness on the team.
But this unit does struggle in one area and that is red zone efficiency. Is that playcalling, lack of size or the play of the quarterback? Probably a combination of all three but the blame mostly falls to the WRs. The unit fails to create separation in tight quarters and is susceptible to corners that attack the line with an aggressive jam. The Eagles would benefit from improvement in the red zone and if player like Anquin Boldin or TJ Houshmandzadeh is attainable I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Eagles go out and make a move.
But don’t be fooled, WR is not the biggest area of need on this team and there is a very real chance the Eagles will do nothing to improve. If it comes at the cost of upgrading other area of the team such as the OL, RB and TE positions I can live with that. Can you?
I don’t diagree with the point that WR is not the team’s most urgent need. If they did not add a receiver it would not cripple the team. But, I think through the draft and free agency, with the money they have available, there is no reason thye can’t address all their needs. They just need to be creative and aggressive. I would also add DE to their needs but only if it’s a guy like Peppers. One thing that it seems everyone fails to mention though in saying the Eagles don’t NEED a top flight #1 receiver. That would be true on a different team, with a different scheme and coach. But, when you throw the ball 60% of the time, and defenses know you can’t and won’t run the ball in crucial situations, then I would argue that having a bunch of #2 and #3 guys will never cut it. So, will the Eagles suck if they don’t get a guy like Boldin or Housh? No. But, with Andy Reid’s offensive gameplan, will they ever take the next step without a guy like that? I don’t think so.
Probably true. I definitely think a true #1 is a need for this team, I just wouldn’t but it at the top of the list. In order of importance, it would probably be: OT, RB, an actual FB, DE/WR in a tie.
We know that Reid has a propensity for drafting tackles, but this free agent class is strong and depending on how the franchise tags play out, the Eagles could make a big splash. I see no need for the Eagles to spend big money on a back, they can address this through the draft. That leave WR/DE. If the Eagles were to bring in a top-flight OT, they may not have the money to get both a WR and a DE of Peppers’ caliber AND sign draft picks (two first rounders mind you). I know they are $40 million under the cap but that goes quick if you hope to add guys the caliber of Jordan Gross, Anquin Boldin and Peppers. Not to mention, the Eagles have never showed a willingness to use all of their cap space.