Philadelphia Eagles: 3 wide receivers worth a Day 3 pick

‘What? A wide receiver out of the Pac-12? No thank you!’

If you feel that way, it’s understandable; JJ Arcega-Whiteside is very much still a member of the Philadelphia Eagles who is keeping the number 19 warm for Kenneth Gainwell, and until he is officially released, the specter of his less than fruitful tenure with the team will hang over the city.

Fortunately, Kyle Philips‘ game isn’t even remotely close to that of JJAW, and his presence on the Eagles’ roster might actually ease the transition from one Pac-12 receiver to another, so please read on if you can.

One of the focal points of Chip Kelly’s UCLA offense alongside fellow 2022 draftable player tight end Greg Dulcich, Philips is a prototypical NFL slot receiver in the vein of Wes Welker and Danny Amendola. While he won’t blow folks away with his timed speed, his athletic testing measurables, or his wingspan, which is bigger than Wan’Dale Robinson’s but not by much, his footwork is clean, his routes are crisp, and he could likely beat out Greg Ward for a spot as the Eagles’ backup slot receiver.

If given a chance to play off of DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, Philips could feast on underneath routes both headed to the sidelines or across the middle of the field. His route running will make him a good, quick option versus man coverage, his savvy will allow him to end up in the right spot versus zone, and he is one of just a handful of wide receivers who can say they have a touchdown versus Derek Stignely on their resume. For a pick outside of the top-200, Philips could be a solid utility get for the Eagles’ offense, especially if they secure another receiver earlier in the draft.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite Day 3 wide receiver target for the Philadelphia Eagles, or is the idea of missing out on a player like Chris Olave, London Drake, or Garret Wilson just too tough to bear? Let us know!