Eagles stay or go: Wide receiver

The Philadelphia Eagles' 2018 season over, and there will be a lot of interesting decisions made on the players currently on the roster, perhaps more so than in most years. Let's take a position-by-position look at who will likely be back with the team in 2019, and who won't. 

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On Wednesday, we started with the quarterbacks. On Thursday, we covered the running backs. Today we'll continue on with the wide receiver

Alshon Jeffery

Jeffery is very clearly the team's No. 1 receiver, and he just signed a four-year contract extension in December of 2017.

#JimmyVerdict: Obviously, Jeffery isn't going anywhere.

Your verdict:

Mike Wallace

Wallace replaced Torrey Smith as sort of the "veteran deep threat," and he ended up appearing in just two games, in which he didn't have a single catch. I believe the Eagles, can -- and will -- do better this offseason in finding a wide receiver who can stretch the defense, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Wallace returning if that pursuit fails.

#JimmyVerdict: Likely gone.

Your verdict:

Nelson Agholor

Agholor is a very interesting player to watch this offseason. He is scheduled to play under a fifth-year option exercised by the team for $9,387,000. That's not cheap, and the team doesn't exactly have much in the way of cap space. If a trade offer came around for Agholor, for, oh, say, a third-round pick, then I think it would absolutely make sense for the Eagles to jump on that, and then try to sign Golden Tate to a reasonable long-term deal.

#JimmyVerdict: For now, we'll predict that Agholor will return to the team, and Tate will walk in free agency, but that's certainly not a given.

Your verdict:

Golden Tate

The deal for Tate at the trade deadline for a third-round pick remains a bad use of resources. He was an eight-game rental (it ended up being a 10-game rental with some luck), and his production (37-342-2 in 10 games) fell short of expectations even after it was questionable deal in the first place. 

However, as noted above, I do see a scenario in which he returns to the team in 2019, but Agholor does not. I don't think it would make much sense to keep both players on lucrative deals, however.

#JimmyVerdict: It's probably more likely that Agholor stays, and Tate walks, with the Eagles receiving something like a fifth-round comp pick in return.

Your verdict:

Mack Hollins

Has anyone seen Mack Hollins? If so, please alert me.

After sustaining a sports hernia, Hollins went on IR and missed the entire regular season. At a minimum, if healthy, he's a core special teamer on a rookie contract, and will be back with the team in 2019.

#JimmyVerdict: Stays.

Your verdict:

Shelton Gibson

Gibson served as the gunner on special teams, but his inability to crack the lineup as a deep threat after Wallace went down is a strong indictment of what the coaching staff thought of his viability as a receiver in the regular offense.

In 2017, Gibson had perhaps the worst training camp I've ever seen from a drafted player. In 2018, he improved significantly, and yet still managed to play fewer snaps in his second season, despite a myriad of injuries at the receiver position.

#JimmyVerdict: He'll be back in camp, but must improve significantly once again to stick in 2019.

Your verdict:

Jordan Matthews

Matthews was actually a reasonably productive player when he got opportunities in 2018, at least in terms of expectations. Still, he will be a free agent this offseason, and likely little more than a player the team would pick up on a veteran-minimum contract.  

#JimmyVerdict: Goes.

Your verdict:

#JimmyVerdict Stay or Go Results

Green = Stay

Red = Go

Orange = Will be back in camp in 2019, but a roster spot is not guaranteed

(Note: Some mobile versions will not display colors.)

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