Roseman says TCU WR Reagor ‘fit us’
It was a long night for the Eagles.
They got their speed receiver in TCU’s Jalen Reagor, whose father Montae ended his nine-year NFL career playing defensive tackle for the Eagles in 2007.
But their dream of making a splash in the NFL’s first virtual draft ended at 10:21 p.m. when the Dallas Cowboys selected the last of the elite wide receivers, CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma, with the 17th pick.
Needing help at cornerback and on the defensive line, ‘Boys boss Jerry Jones chose Lamb. And Jones smiled it up after the move, almost intimating it was out of spite, for the Eagles in 2018 traded ahead of the Cowboys to select tight end Dallas Goedert. That draft, you may recall, was held in Dallas.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said he made overtures to move up the board, to no avail.
“We’re very aggressive with working the phones,” Roseman said. “But it’s got to work for both sides.”
After the Jaguars took defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson, the Minnesota Vikings selected Justin Jefferson, who set an LSU record with 111 receptions last year, to go with 18 TDs. A favorite of
many Eagles fans, Jefferson is strictly a slot receiver and isn’t nearly as explosive as Reagor. Think of Reagor as an unrefined version of Henry Ruggs III, who had been the first receiver off the board.
“He’s a player that fit us and fit what we were looking for,” Roseman said of Reagor. “Coach and I talked after the season about our desire to bring some youth onto the football team and add some speed. And Jalen does those things. There was a lot of debate and discussion, a lot of good players at that position in this draft. But Jalen fit something that we were really looking for. He’s an explosive guy. He has the ability to contribute as a receiver, as a returner. He’s explosive with the ball in his hands. It was all things we were looking for.”
Reagor (5-11, 206) was the 10thrated wide receiver by Ourlad’s Scouting Services, who projected him as a second or third round pick. He was clocked in 4.47 in the 40-yard dash at the combine but plays faster according to that service, which considers him a threat to score each time he touches the ball.
Though Reagor won’t be caught from behind too often, he’s not much of a route runner and might not be, according to scouting guides. He’s considered extremely raw as a receiver.
Reagor caught 43 passes for 611 yards (a 14.2 ypg. average) and five touchdowns last season for TCU. He was a bigger threat on punt returns, averaging 20.8 yards and taking two to the house.
The Eagles have a polished speed receiver in DeSean Jackson. His growing history of soft tissue injuries has been an issue, though, and the Eagles have to be ready to move on.
Eagles vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl verified Reagor’s burner status.
“You could see his speed on tape running by people,” Weidl said.
“Downfield, going up and making catches. And then on the returns, he was a punt returner, you could see his speed.”
It took about an hour and a half until the first receiver went off the board. That’s when the Las Vegas Raiders selected Ruggs of Alabama, who clocked a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
Ruggs is more than a burner, though, with solid hands, body control and ball skills. He’s a threat on jet sweeps and kickoff returns. Comparisons to Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs are on point.
The Eagles stood pat during the evening, quashing rumors they were ready to send it and last year’s firstrounder, offensive tackle Andre Dillard, to the New York Jets for the 11th pick.
At 11, the Jets and former Eagles player personnel chief Joe Douglas grabbed Mekhi Becton, the 6-7, 364-pound offensive tackle out of Louisville.
There were no trades until the San Francisco 49ers were on the board with the 13th pick. Virtual draft or whatnot, it was the first time since 2015 there were no draft trades in the top 10.
The first deal found the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trading up a spot from 14 to 13 to select Tristan Wirfs, the last quality offensive tackle on the board. The Bucs wanted to protect Tom Brady.
The San Francisco 49ers, who gave up the 13th choice, wanted more picks rather than CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy.
The 49ers then grabbed defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina.
At 10:05 p.m., John Elway kicked back in his recliner after selecting Jeudy with the 15th pick. Though the Broncos wanted Ruggs, Jeudy is every bit as explosive.
With Lamb still available, the Atlanta Falcons grabbed cornerback A.J. Terrell of Clemson with the 16th selection. That was bad news for the Cowboys, who were next.
Instead of edge rusher Chaisson of
LSU, the Cowboys rolled with Lamb.
The Dolphins followed with offensive tackle Austin Jackson of USC.
The beginning of the draft was delayed by a lengthy message from commissioner Roger Goodell in his Westchester (N.Y.) County basement and the playing of the national anthem.
“It’s a change for all of us,” Goodell said. “It’s going to be different but it’s going to be fun.”
It was different. Refreshing, in fact, for its simplicity after the predraft stuff.
At 8:09 p.m. Harry Connick Jr. completed the national anthem while playing the piano, then asked viewers to applaud medical personnel and first responders.
At 8:12 p.m., Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, gave his talk.
Joe Burrow was announced as the first pick by Goodell at 8:25 p.m. And yes, it was amusing that Goodell had to read the name off a card.
Chase Young was the second overall pick, the Washington Redskins scooping him up.
At 8:38 p.m., the Detroit Lions took cornerback Jeff Okudah of Ohio State off the board. All the top three picks suited up with the Buckeyes at some time, Burrow transferring to LSU.
The New York Giants bagged offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.
At 8:55 p.m., the Miami Dolphins followed with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Los Angeles Chargers followed with Justin Herbert, the quarterback out of Oregon.
All the coveted wide receivers were on the board at 9:15 when the Arizona Cardinals snared linebacker Isaiah Simmons of Clemson.