The Philadelphia Eagles could have used a vet like Marquise Goodwin

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded for Marquise Goodwin in April of 2020, it felt like a low-risk, high-reward endeavor.

The deal, which took place on the third day of the NFL Draft, sent Godwin and the 190th overall pick to the Eagles for the 210th overall pick, which effectively served as a salary dump on his $4 million contract.

For a team like the Eagles, who were coming off three straight playoff berths under a Super Bowl-winning head coach, the deal made sense. While Godwin never quite developed into a top-flight, starting-caliber wide receiver, he had speed for days, experience on special teams, and the versatility to play inside or out on offense. With speed being the name of Howie Roseman’s game in 2020, securing a vet on a relatively team-friendly deal was a good use of both cap space and a roster spot, even with Jalen Reagor, John Hightower, and Quez Watkins all selected on the same weekend.

And then things got weird.

First, Goodwin opted out of the 2020 season to spend time with his young family. For the Eagles, this was a minor league bummer but far from the reason why the team went 4-12.

Then came the benching, fallout, and eventual trade of Carson Wentz, who strutted the team with the most dead money of any individual trade in NFL history. Factor in Roseman’s creative cap maneuvering of moving guaranteed money into the future, and the Eagles found themselves in desperate need to free up money, with players like Malik Jackson, DeSean Jackson, and Goodwin all falling victim to a need to free up money.

Thanks to some creative trade conditions, the Eagles were able to send Goodwin – and his contract- back to SF without adding any dead money to their books, and he was then released by the 49ers on the very next day.

In the end, Goodwin ended up signing with the Chicago Bears on a one-year, $1.2 million deal and has played a predictably part-time role for a team that rapidly fell off the rails.

Ultimately, did the Philadelphia Eagles make the right move for them heading into the 2021 season? I would think so. For all of the field spacing Goodwin brings to the table, his play hasn’t quite lived up to a $4 million cap hit, but for a team with one of the youngest receiving corps in the NFL, having a veteran player on the roster probably wouldn’t have been the worst idea.

The Philadelphia Eagles should pursue a veteran receiver in March.

There’s a segment of the Philadelphia Eagles’ fanbase that wants nothing more than to see Howie Roseman go out and sign a superstar wide receiver next offseason.

On paper, it makes sense. DeVonta Smith is really good and on a rookie contract through 2024 with a fifth-year option in 2025, and the rest of the offensive weapons save Dallas Goedert and potentially Miles Sanders will be on similarly priced deals for the foreseeable future. Why not go out, steal away a star like Allen Robinson, and give Jalen Hurts some serious firepower on the outside/in the slot?

If you fall into that category, your opinion is sound. Outside of Smith and Goedert, who will both almost surely finish out the season with 900-plus yards, the Eagles only have one wide receiver, Quez Watkins, who is guaranteed a starting spot in 2022, with Jalen Reagor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, and Greg Ward, assuming he’s retained, competitive for a fourth/fifth man role. Adding a player like Robinson – or whomever – would open up more opportunities for Smith and Goedert and even make Watkins’ speed more effective with a steady stream of single coverage looks.

But even if the Eagles can’t come away with one of the top free agent wide receivers on the market, many of whom are unfortunately injured, that doesn’t mean the team should simply check swing on a potential signing and turn to the draft for more fresh, young blood. No, the Eagles need to find themselves a veteran wide receiver, even if he’s not a certified difference-maker.

Remember Torey Smith? Miles Austin? DeSean Jackson (the second time)? None of those players ever led their respective teams in receiving yards, targets, or receptions, but all three were acquired to play a role on offense and provide a professional touch to offenses largely relying on younger homegrown talent. While signing the next TO or Alshon Jeffery is always preferable to Miles Austin, plenty of cheaper veteran receivers have played quality roles in the NFL this season, including Zay Jones back in Week 7 and Braxton Berrios in Week 13. While neither of those players are vet vets, both make less than $2 million and are playing better than their paychecks.

You know, after watching Berrios return a kick 79 yards back in Week 13, I certainly wouldn’t mind watching him rotate into the slot in addition to a steady dose of special teams work.

Heading into the 2021 NFL season, going young at the wide receiver spot made sense for the Philadelphia Eagles. Few people really expected the team to compete for a playoff spot, even in the expanded formula, and giving extra snaps to players like Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins, and even JJ Arcega-Whiteside presented more long-term upside than throwing the same ball to, say, Marquise Goodwin. But now, with the playoffs clinched, it would be nice to have a Goodwin-type on the roster, especially if he can contribute on special teams. I would imagine Howie Roseman will remedy that situation in 2022.