Philadelphia Eagles: What next for Alshon Jeffery?

What’s in store for Alshon Jeffery’s future with the Philadelphia Eagles?

The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and Alshon Jeffery remains a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite Howie Roseman’s greatest efforts, a trade partner was not found for Jeffery, and he will stay in Philly for at least the remainder of 2020.

Jeffery’s last two seasons as a member of the Eagles have been a complete disaster. After landing himself a massive $52 million extension towards the end of 2017, the veteran wide receiver started burning as many bridges as humanly possible. He *anonymously* criticized the team’s starting quarterback on two separate occasions, called out Howie Roseman for not acquiring Jalen Ramsey, and failed to make an appearance during the first half of the 2020 season; despite being on the active roster.

Roseman and the Eagles have reportedly been shopping Jeffery as early as the 2019 offseason, trying to find a way to get out of his contract prior to his $18.5 million cap number hitting in 2021.

More from Section 215

• 4 Eagles on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
• Best Pennsylvania Sportsbook Promos: Win $650 GUARANTEED Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket
• 3 Punters the Eagles Must Target to Replace Arryn Siposs
• Cowboys Trey Lance Trade Proves How Screwed They Are With Dak Prescott
• Devon Allen Took Britain Covey’s Job on Eagles

Jeffery’s name was floated around repeatedly leading up to this year’s trade deadline, with no suitors ever being seriously linked to the veteran wideout. I of course don’t blame them, as there is genuinely no reason for a team to value an aging WR on such a massive contract, especially considering his recent injury history.

Jeffery was initially included on the Eagles 53-man roster to start the season, which raised a whole bunch of eyebrows. It was assumed that he would start the season on PUP or even IR, and yet Roseman made a point of giving him an active roster spot. This was likely done to raise his trade value throughout the course of the first eight weeks, which obviously didn’t work.

At the time, Roseman and the Eagles also stated that they expected an early return for Jeffery. Late September was cited as a potential timeline, and yet we’re now in November and the former Bear has yet to play a snap this season. His foot injury is healed, but he supposedly picked up a calf injury at practice.

At this point in time, there’s little reason for the Philadelphia Eagles to play Alshon during the second half of the season. Travis Fulgham has blossomed into the team’s future starting X receiver, and taking snaps away from him for a returning Jeffery would be completely irresponsible.

The Eagles could hand Jeffery a few snaps here and there just to try to reignite his trade value one last time for next offseason, but that seems like a redundant exercise at this point in time. It’s been two years, nobody is trading for him.

Jeffery will be entering the final year of his contract next season, which makes cutting him slightly more reasonable. It would still create $10 million of “dead cap”, but it would free the Philadelphia Eagles of his $18 million cap hit. This is the most likely outcome from this whole scenario, which makes it hard to believe the coaching staff will put too much effort into getting Jeffery back on the field over the next few months.

As far as I’m concerned, Alshon Jeffery’s tenure as an Eagle is all but over.