By: Kylan Watson
On Thursday, March 9th, 2017 at 4 pm EST, a new free agency period for the National Football League (NFL) began. The Philadelphia Eagles got the new fiscal year and the free agency period started with a bang, as they bolstered their receiving corps with the additions of Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith. The Eagles, who finished in last place in the NFC East last season. The Eagles now are serious playoff contenders with the new additions, and give star quarterback Carson Wentz some new weapons to add to his offensive arsenal.
The Eagles had one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL. The Eagles receivers led the league in drop passes, receptions and touchdowns. Jeffrey and Smith are two of the top-15 receivers in the NFL. Smith averaged 17 yards after catch that placed him behind Desean Jackson who was the top receiver in yards after catch in the league. Smith only played in 12 games last season, but during those 12 games he had 20 receptions, averaged 13.4 yards per game, gained 267 yards, and caught three touchdown passes. Jeffrey also only played in 12 games due to injury and being suspended for substance abuse. Jeffrey had 52 receptions, gained 68.4 yards per game, gained 821 yards, and caught two touchdown passes. Jeffrey will most likely be the number one wide receiver and Smith will be the second primary receiver.
The Eagles now have one of the top wide receiving duos in the league, and the Eagles also landed the number one wide receiver in the free agent class of 2017 by adding Jeffrey to the team. Jeffrey wanted to play with Carson Wentz and he decided to bet on himself, and the numbers he can possibly put up with Carson Wentz as his quarter back. Carson Wentz is already proving to be quite the recruiter for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles went from a receiving corps where the best receiver was Jordan Matthews, to a corps that can be a threat in this upcoming NFL season. This was a great first day of free agency for Howie Roseman who strengthened the Eagles weakest skill possession with the signings of Jeffrey and Smith. All the Eagles need now is a running back, a center, and a defensive back, and they can really make some noise in the upcoming NFL season. There is still much more work to do for the Eagles this off-season.
