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Eagles Replace DeVante Parker With High-Upside Free Agent

The Philadelphia Eagles wasted no time signing a wide receiver after DeVante Parker surprisingly retired.

By Cem Yolbulan

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross (11) runs drills during warmups before the first quarter of the NFL Week 1 game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. Cincinnati Bengals At Seattle Seahawks
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross (11) runs drills during warmups before the first quarter of the NFL Week 1 game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. Cincinnati Bengals At Seattle Seahawks / Sam Greene, The Northwestern via Imagn
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Earlier in the offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran free agent DeVante Parker. They were hoping that the former Dolphins star would compete for the WR3 role and provide experience and depth to the receiver room. Despite signing a new deal only two months ago, Parker surprisingly announced his retirement this week.

Even though the Eagles have decent depth at wide receiver, they wasted no time signing another one. And unlike the DeVante Parker acquisition, the Eagles went for an outside-the-box, high-upside choice this time, signing former first-round pick John Ross.

Eagles News: WR John Ross Un-Retires To Join Philadelphia

The Eagles had opened a roster spot on Wednesday when they moved Parker to the reserve/retired list. They immediately used that roster spot on Ross, who had accepted an invitation to the Eagles' rookie minicamp as a tryout player earlier in the spring.

Most recently, Ross was on a reserve/future contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, before the 2023 NFL season began, he announced his retirement.

That is why this signing is a big surprise. Ross hasn't played in an NFL game since 2021, when he was on a one-year deal with the New York Giants. He finished that season with 11 catches, 224 yards, and one touchdown in 10 games.

Prior to that, Ross had spent four seasons with the Bengals, posting 733 yards and 10 touchdowns in 27 games. The high-water mark for him was the 2018 season, when he produced seven TD catches in 13 games.

Unfortunately, injuries sapped his athleticism over the years, reducing his effectiveness. When he first burst onto the scene, Ross was seen as one of the fastest receivers we had ever seen, breaking the 40-yard dash record in the NFL combine. This earned him a ninth-overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft but he hasn't been able to live up to that hype in his career.

It is encouraging to see Ross attempt a comeback. He is still only 28 years old. If he can rediscover a semblance of his form from earlier in his career, he could be an intriguing depth option for Philadelphia.

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