Options Are Wide-Open For Eagles

Would longtime Colts receiver Marvin Harrison be a good fit for an Eagles offense in need of help? (Photo courtesy Indianapolis Colts)

The imminent arrival of the NFL’s 2009 free-agency period on February 26th finds the NFC runner-up Philadelphia Eagles in a predicament so familiar and endemic to the Andy Reid Era that it has become a defining feature, namely, the lack of a true #1 wide-receiving threat. Those who wonder how the Eagles have failed to convert five NFC Championship Game appearances this decade into more than one Super Bowl appearance would be better served wondering how they made it as far as they did with the likes of such mediocrities as Todd Pinkston, James Thrash, Freddie Mitchell & Co starting at wide receiver.

That the Eagles’ only Super Bowl appearance of the decade occurred while Terrell Owens was on the roster is no coincidence—Andy Reid’s short-passing West Coast offense has never been a good fit for quarterback Donovan McNabb, who struggles with short-to-intermediate throws, but excels at throwing deep balls down the field. Though one of the Eagles’ better recent draft choices, wide receiver DeSean Jackson, showed flashes of brilliance during his 2008 rookie campaign—his 912 receiving yards for a 14.7 yards-per-catch average attests to his speed—his lack of size and inexperience prevents him from consistently beating press coverage.

If Jackson is not quite a #1 receiver just yet, he clearly has that potential. For the moment he is good enough that, paired with another quality receiver (and by quality I do not mean the average likes of Kevin Curtis or Reggie Brown), Jackson would certainly form the cog in an explosive downfield passing game. This poses the question: Should the Eagles target a veteran free-agent, or add another receiver in the draft? If the answer is to be found in free-agency, then who is available? Of those available, who might be worth the gamble (free-agency nearly always being a gamble)? Let’s take a look at a few of the likely available free-agent (or tradable) wide receivers that might catch the eye of Andy Reid:

Bengals wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the most talked-about possibility for the Eagles this off-season, but would his 9.8 yards per reception average from last season improve in Philadelphia? (Photo courtesy Cincinnati Bengals)

• T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Certainly the most talked-about possibility for the Eagles this off-season. Averaged a paltry 9.8 yards per reception for a dreadful Bengals team in 2008. His career yds/rec being only 11.4, Houshmandzadah is unlikely to be Philly’s answer in the downfield game, despite being an excellent route-runner. He should be signed only at a reasonable, bargain price, which means he should not be signed, given his likely price tag.

• Marvin Harrison – The future Hall of Famer was recently released by the Colts after refusing to restructure his contract for 2009. His 60 catches last season was his fewest ever as a starter, and his 10.6 yds/rec was likewise a career low. Coming off of multiple injury-plagued seasons, it’s clear that he’s lost a step. A great route-runner, but a 37 year old possession receiver who is no longer quick enough to evade press coverage. It’s time for this Colt to be put out to pasture.

• Joey Galloway – Just released by Tampa Bay in a salary cap-clearing move, he’s coming off of an injury which limited him in 2008. He seemed healthy at the end of the season, and at age 38 this season should continue to be one of the very fastest receivers in the league. Despite a history of injuries, he had three consecutive 1,000 yard receiving seasons from 2005-2007, averaging 15.5, 17.0, and 17.8 yards per catch. If healthy, would be a fantastic addition to the Eagles’ offense.

• Laveranues Coles – Walked away from $6 million in guaranteed money from the Jets to test free agency. Has always been fast, but never been a solid route-runner, and has always struggled against physical, bump-and-run coverage. His career 12.8 yards per reception is very low for a player of his speed. Will ask for much more money than he’s worth—avoid.

Receivers who might be on the trading block include Torry Holt and Anquan Boldin as well. Holt is well past his prime, a poor-man’s Marvin Harrison at this point. Boldin is a strong possession receiver with limited downfield ability, who will certainly ask for far more money than he is worth—he is a good receiver, not a great one. Andy Reid and Eagles President Joe Banner should avoid spending too much money on this spot in free agency, and opt to use one of their two first round picks in the 2009 NFL Draft instead. There, the Eagles should find Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey and his blinding speed.

That will be change that Eagles fans can believe in.

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Jox Populi is a weekly sports column by Observer Staff Reporter Justin Jones. Justin can be reached at justin@BearGlasgowObserver.com