Philadelphia Eagles: Should the Eagles take a chance on Antonio Callaway?

With the NFL Draft a few short weeks away, should the Philadelphia Eagles take a chance on one of the biggest ‘what ifs’ in the draft, WR Antonio Callaway?

 Antonio Callaway came to the University of Florida as a 4-star prospect in the 2015 season and immediately made an impact on offense and as a returner on special teams.

Callaway was selected as an All-American as a return specialist by CBS Sports in 2015 and seemed to have quickly built a rapport with then-quarterback Will Grier. Callaway finished the 2015 season as the Gators leading receiver with 35 catches for 678 yards and four touchdowns. While his performances as a rookie had many expecting big things from the 5-foot-11 receiver, off-field concerns quickly complicated his ability to make plays on it.

In the 2016 offseason, Callaway was suspended due to sexual assault allegations but was reversed after an independent hearing officer took the case to a Title IX hearing. When Callaway was reinstated by Florida there were high exceptions, coming off an impressive freshman campaign Callaway looked to build off what he started during his first season as a Gator. And as a sophomore, Callaway didn’t disappoint.  The Miami native went on to lead the Gators in receiving with 54 catches, 721 yards, and 4 touchdowns in yet another great season for the SEC receiver.

But as Callaway looked more and more like a future star, his off-field issues once again complicated his abilities to get into games.

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In the fall of 2017, nine Gators players were suspended due to credit card fraud and just like that, Callaway’s career as a Gator was effectively over. On December 7, 2017, while suspended, Callaway made the decision to forgo his senior season and enter the 2018 Draft after only playing two college seasons in Gainsville.

At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, the Floridian speedster has all the tools needed to be one of the highest ranked receivers in the 2018 class, but his off-field issues have many teams wondering if he deserves a spot on their draft boards at all. Callaway has the speed to be a burner, has playmaking ability, can return kicks and punts, runs the entire route tree and isn’t afraid to go over the middle, but can he stay out of trouble long enough to actually get on the field?

Why he’s a fit with the Philadelphia Eagles

As of right now, the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles hold six picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, the 32nd selection overall selection, a pair fourth-round picks, a pair of fifth-round picks and a sixth-round pick.

With only one pick in the top 100 selections in the 2018 NFL Draft, the team has to hit on some later round prospects, and Callaway could very well be one of those ‘boom-or-bust’ prospects. While he may not be the highest character player in the draft, the team overlooked off-field issues with vital players like LeGarrette Blount and Lane Johnson in 2017, and it helped them win a Super Bowl.

So from a pure football standpoint, if the Eagles could select Callaway somewhere on Day 3 of the draft he could be an absolute steal. Get Callaway in this veteran Eagles locker room and let him mature on an Eagles team with one of the best cultures in the entire NFL.

Looking at the 2018 salary cap situation, Torrey Smith carries at $5 million cap hit and doesn’t carry any dead cap charge if he were released. If Smith was to be cut after his 36 catch 430-yard season then theoretically speaking Callaway could be his younger, cheaper replacement. Looking even further into the future, Nelson Agholor will need a new contract soon and should be inline with a contract like Robert Woods signed in the 2017 off-season. Woods signed a 5-year, $34-million deal with about $15-million of that guaranteed. It remains to be seen if the Eagles will be in the market for a contract like that while planning on Carson Wentz‘s inevitable upcoming $100+ million deal the following offseason.

Callaway might not be the cleanest prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft but some team will surely roll the dice on the troubled speedster in hopes of winning a jackpot, the like Kansas City Chiefs did with 2016 fifth round All-Pro Tyreek Hill. The Eagles have very little cap space going into the 2018 season, so taking a chance on Callaway obviously makes sense they are going to lose younger players looking for their paydays in years to come. The Eagles will need to replenish this Super Bowl roster with elite playmakers to keep this Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson offense humming, and Callaway may fit that bill.

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