3 Free Agent Wide Receivers the Eagles Can Target After DeVante Parker Retirement

After DeVante Parker shockingly announced his NFL retirement on Monday, the Philadelphia Eagles must target these three free agent wide receivers to replace him.
The Eagles should target WR Michael Thomas following DeVante Parker's retirement.
The Eagles should target WR Michael Thomas following DeVante Parker's retirement. / Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

2. WR Mecole Hardman

If the Eagles want to roll the dice on a wideout who's hungry to prove himself, Mecole Hardman is another option to replace Parker.

The 26-year-old speedster is an interesting option as he continues to find the perfect spot for him on an NFL roster. Hardman has shown flashes of potential throughout the last five seasons but has struggled to consistently play at a high level on a week-to-week basis, resulting in him looking to join a third NFL franchise since being a second-round pick in 2019.

But even with his struggles, signing Hardman deserves some consideration. It isn't as if he's a total bum, having tallied at least 40 receptions, 530 yards, and two touchdowns in three of his first five campaigns. Yes, his 2023 stats were abysmal, but that had more to do with his playing a career-low 153 offensive snaps between the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs.

Speaking of the Chiefs, Hardman oozes postseason experience after winning three Super Bowls with the franchise. The Eagles need players who can step up on the biggest stages and the former Georgia Bulldog proved he's capable of those feats when he scored the game-winning TD at Super Bowl LVIII.

Like Thomas, I could see Hardman excelling in a smaller role with the Eagles. While Smith and Brown are distracting the top opposing corners, Philadelphia can exploit Hardman's ability as a downfield threat to stretch the gridiron, potentially leading to some big passing plays.

Considering how the Eagles' roster is already filled with former Georgia players, they may as well add to their collection.