The Philadelphia Eagles head into the NFL draft with several needs to address. One position that could be worth adding another piece at is wide receiver, especially given the questions surrounding A.J. Brown's future with the team and whether he will be traded during the offseason.
With the drama surrounding Brown, and the potential depth concerns should his actions continue to be a distraction and keep him from performing at his best if he stays around, Philadelphia would be wise to invest in a wideout, including the later rounds.
One worth considering is Oregon WR Malik Benson, who is listed at No. 223 on the NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus board. The last selection the Eagles are scheduled to make is at No. 197 in the sixth round, but if they feel his skill set would fit right in with their organization, that would not be a huge leap for a player expected to go no sooner than the fourth round.
Malik Benson Could Be a Huge Late-Round Addition to Eagles WR Room
Benson led the Ducks with 719 receiving yards last season, reeling in 43 receptions, averaging 16.7 yards per catch, and six TDs. After less-than-stellar seasons for Alabama and Florida State, Benson excelled at Oregon, enjoying plenty of success in deep-ball situations.
Benson was tied for third in the Big Ten with 11 catches for at least 20 yards last season. He may not always create separation in short-yardage situations, and struggles with indecisiveness and a lack of commitment on short catch-and-run throws, but Benson's toughness and quickness make him a threat on every snap.
His draft profile only suggests that he has the traits or talent to be an above-average backup. However, given the current situation in Philadelphia, the upside he brings as a deep-ball threat and his dynamic return skills are certainly encouraging.
The Eagles have already been busy this offseason, adding some depth to their WR room. The acquisition of former Kansas City Chiefs WR Marquise "Hollywood" Brown could pay dividends, especially given his abilities as a short-route specialist, providing Jalen Hurts a reliable option to move the chains when the Eagles do not need a big play.
Furthermore, the Eagles also acquired Dontayvion Wicks, who played for new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion in Green Bay. Distractions aside, Brown is the clear WR1 on this team if he is around, and DeVonta Smith is WR2, but Wicks could fit in nicely as the potential WR3. He primarily played behind Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, and Tucker Kraft while with the Packers, but he still reeled in 30 catches for 332 yards and two TDs. Given his upside, Wicks could be poised to go from zero to hero in his new role with the Eagles.
The remaining depth chart at WR does not look as promising with Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper, Johnny Wilson, Britain Covey, Quez Watkins, and Danny Gray. For Moore, specifically, who was signed to a one-year deal in March and continues to struggle to find his footing in the NFL after previous stints with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, and Denver Broncos, he could be on the chopping block amid all the draft buzz surrounding Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson. The Sun Devils wideout is recovering from a lingering hamstring issue, but he is high on the lists of several teams in the first round.
As someone who recorded two total TDs at Alabama and Florida State, respectively, Benson had a breakout season at Oregon. After such a quiet start to his career, the fact that Benson had two games with more than 100 receiving yards, including a career-high 119 yards and two TDs in the College Football Playoff first-round win over James Madison, is a testament to his approach and work ethic.
There are definitely concerns about drafting any player in the later rounds. However, given Philadelphia's current situation with A.J. Brown and a WR room that could use some additional depth, Benson has the upside to contribute quickly in the right environment, or at least be a reliable backup option in the early going.
More Philadelphia Eagles News and Rumors:
Add us as a preferred source on Google