Philadelphia Eagles: 8 Players Who Could Potentially Replace Jeremy Maclin
Re-signing Jeremy Maclin should be the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest priority this offseason. After all, the 26-year-old posted his finest numbers yet, finishing with 85 receptions, 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns, remarkably just dropping a single pass.
Maclin was awarded with his first Pro Bowl selection, which should earn him a hefty contract in free agency. It seems a no-brainer that the Eagles lock him up long term, especially after they curiously released DeSean Jackson last offseason. The team can’t possibly let another star wide receiver walk, can it?
Unfortunately, it sounds like contract talks between Maclin and the Eagles aren’t going so well. Appearing on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia, Adam Caplan said talks between the Eagles and Maclin have stalled due largely to Maclin’s agent change.
It would be a surprise if the team allowed Maclin to walk, but maybe Chip Kelly will deem one player too expensive for the franchise tag. After all, Kelly cut ties with Jackson last offseason, and he was able to coax a career season out of Jackson and Riley Cooper in ’13 and Maclin in ’14.
He may believe his system is good enough to win without Maclin. That would force Jordan Matthews into an elevated role as a starter, while either Cooper or Josh Huff starts opposite and the other plays the slot. But should Kelly look to free agency or potential trade candidates to replace Maclin, here are a handful of players that could potentially fill the void.
Dez Bryant/Demaryius Thomas
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Acquiring either Dez Bryant (6'2", 220 lbs) or Demaryius Thomas (6'3", 229 lbs) would be a dream come true for Philadelphia Eagles fans.
Bryant led the NFL with 16 touchdown catches in 2014, and his 56 scores since entering the league are more than any other wide receiver. He’s an Eagles fan’s worst nightmare in Dallas, but he would be a godsend in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, Thomas caught 111 passes for 1,619 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Both of those players are tall, strong and still in the prime of their careers; if by some chance either the Dallas Cowboys or Denver Broncos don't retain their All-Pro receiver, the Eagles should show some serious interest.
Torrey Smith
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The Philadelphia Eagles could let Jeremy Maclin walk and try to sign Torrey Smith—a similar receiver who is around the same age—at a cheaper price.
Smith, 26, had just 49 catches for 767 yards for the Baltimore Ravens a year ago, but he did score 11 touchdowns. Smith possesses exceptional speed (4.43 40-yard dash) and would fill in well opposite Jordan Matthews. The Ravens are a smart organization and may not overpay for a player who is best suited as a No. 2 receiver.
Still, it would be curious for the Eagles to allow an in-house option like Maclin to walk while signing a player with similar skills in Smith.
Randall Cobb
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Randall Cobb doesn’t fit the traditional mold of Chip Kelly’s receivers, as he’s just 5’10” and 191 pounds. He’s also a slot receiver, which would force Jordan Matthews outside, and Kelly seemed to enjoy having Matthews in the slot as a rookie.
But Cobb is extremely talented in his role. He caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2014, forcing 18 missed tackles, a number that ranked third among all wide receivers in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
If the Green Bay Packers don't re-sign Cobb—choosing instead to promote Davante Adams to a starting role—the Philadelphia Eagles may be able to sign Cobb at a similar price to what they would have to pay Jeremy Maclin. If Maclin doesn’t want to come back, that’s a fine alternative.
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Andre Johnson/Larry Fitzgerald
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Neither Andre Johnson nor Larry Fitzgerald would be a long-term answer for the Philadelphia Eagles, but each would be a fine stopgap while Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff continue their development.
Johnson posted just 936 yards and three touchdowns in 2014, but he was dealing with complete instability at the quarterback position. As it stands, he’s played in 47 of the last 48 games, averaging 102 receptions and 1,314 yards during that span.
Fitzgerald hasn’t reached 1,000 yards for three consecutive years, and a change of scenery may do him some good. He failed to get separation in 2014, finishing at just 63 catches, 784 yards and two touchdowns. That put him just 38th among receivers in yards, despite suiting up for 14 games.
Johnson and Fitzgerald are both signed by their respective teams for 2015, but there’s been talk of them moving on. The Houston Texans would have to pay Johnson $16.1 million against the cap, and that’s a lot to pay for a player who is now the No. 2 option on his team.
The Arizona Cardinals owe Fitzgerald a ridiculous $23 million in ’15. Per Kent Somers of AZCentral Sports, it may make sense for both sides if Fitzgerald is traded. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the Cardinals won’t release Fitzgerald in ’15, so it would make sense for the Eagles to try to trade a low draft pick and then restructure Fitzgerald's contract.
Both these players are big names but could still have several years left in them. Kelly would undoubtedly love utilizing the 6'3", 218-pound Fitzgerald from the slot role, while Johnson’s size (6'3", 230 lbs) makes him a good jump-ball threat. The ideal scenario is that Houston or Arizona releases one of the two, but if necessary, the Eagles have shown they’re willing to trade for a veteran player (Darren Sproles).
Vincent Jackson
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Vincent Jackson is a similar player to Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald—he’s a physically big receiver with a high 2015 cap hit, and he’s been passed by a teammate as the No. 1 receiver on the team. The difference between Jackson and the other two is that Jackson is still a top-tier player; he’s played all 48 games since 2011 and just turned in his fourth 1,000-yard season in as many years.
Jackson is 6’5”, 230 pounds and would provide an excellent red-zone target for the Philadelphia Eagles. He brings forth a $12 million cap hit for 2015, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can save nearly $7.5 million by releasing Jackson. If they do want to trade him, a team would likely do so under the agreement that Jackson is willing to restructure his contract.
Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (h/t Fox Sports' Jay Glazer), the Eagles reportedly made a run at Jackson around last year’s trade deadline. If Chip Kelly was interested last fall, he’s likely still intrigued by the possibility.
Marques Colston
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The New Orleans Saints are in a terrible cap situation in 2015. They’re projected to be over $20 million above the salary cap, and they will have to release several veteran players.
Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham aren’t going anywhere, but nine-year veteran wide receiver Marques Colston is a likely cap casualty. He’s due to make $9.7 million against the cap next year, which is a lot of money to pay for a player who failed to post 1,000 receiving yards in ’14 for the second consecutive season.
Colston is 31 years old and should still have several solid seasons left in him. He’s a big body at 6’4”, 225 pounds and thrived in the slot role with the Saints. Chip Kelly would enjoy utilizing Colston in a similar role in Philadelphia while mixing and matching him on the outside with Jordan Matthews.
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