The Philadelphia Eagles could look to trade up for a wide receiver

With the 2020 NFL Draft just around the corner, the Philadelphia Eagles are one of the teams rumored to be considering trading up to land one of the top wide receiver prospects in what many believe to be a historically good class. The Eagles currently hold the 21st overall pick. PFN’s Chief Draft Analyst and NFL Insider Tony Pauline has three wide receivers in his top 20 prospects, while PFN Draft Analyst AJ Schulte’s wide receiver rankings see three players with top 15 rankings.

So, if the Eagles are planning on trading up rather than picking at 21, who will it be for?

CeeDee Lamb

If the Eagles do trade up for a wide receiver, then Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb would be a great fit as possibly the most well-rounded receiver in the draft. Philadelphia relied on Alshon Jeffery as their primary option at WR last season, but rumors continue to swirl about their willingness to move on from him.

Lamb would give the Eagles a traditional wide receiver who could take the pressure off tight end duo Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. He may not have elite speed, but of all the options, he’s the readiest to step in and handle the volume. While other players may be asked to play a specific role, Lamb could be the Eagles’ top wide receiver and receive 100 targets as a rookie.

He’s capable of winning in all areas, proving himself as one of the best deep threats in college football while also regularly showing his playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. His versatility would instantly give the Eagles something that they don’t have with their current receivers, many of whom are known for one thing, whether it’s as a jump-ball specialist or a deep threat.

Would Lamb thrive with Carson Wentz?

Quarterback Carson Wentz would welcome Lamb into the offense, having targeted Nelson Agholor and Greg Ward a combined 109 times last season. Second-round pick JJ Arcega-Whiteside had a disappointing rookie campaign, and even if we assume he’ll improve, it’s unlikely that he’s going to become a focal point of the passing game.

Wentz has thrown the ball 607 times in each of the two seasons in which he has played all 16 games. If the Eagles draft Lamb, then he should be the top wide receiver taken in any rookie draft and could be a top 20 fantasy wide receiver for the foreseeable future.

Jerry Jeudy

Jerry Jeudy might be the best route runner in the class. He’s quick, smooth, and separates with ease. If you look to see where a player’s production is going to come from, then Jeudy’s is easy to find. He dominated in the slot for Alabama and would be a considerable upgrade over Agholor, who has occupied the starting spot for the Eagles ever since being drafted in the first round back in 2015.

Despite Agholor’s underwhelming performance last season, he still saw 69 targets in the 11 games he played. Jeudy may not have the best hands in the class, but he’d be a safer option than Agholor, who only caught 56.5% of passes thrown his way. He’s shown that he’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands and would immediately improve upon Agholor’s 9.3 yards per reception.

Jeudy would be an excellent fit for the Eagles and would allow the team to keep their other offensive players on the field for the 2020 season. Any cornerback lining up in single coverage in the slot against Jeudy would be in for a long day, and he could have an immediate fantasy impact.

Henry Ruggs III

If the Eagles want the heir to DeSean Jackson’s throne, then Ruggs could be it. He could take over as the primary deep threat for the team. Ruggs was the fastest receiver to run at the NFL Combine, and it wasn’t particularly close. His 4.27-second 40-yard dash was somehow slower than he was hoping for as he had his eye on John Ross’ record of 4.22 seconds. Maybe he was disappointed, but the facts are that no cornerback has ever run faster at the combine, so he should still be able to beat defenders comfortably at the next level.

Ruggs would undoubtedly be valuable to the Eagles but would likely be more inconsistent than other receivers. He’s a homerun threat whenever he touches the ball, but due to the talent around him at Alabama, he didn’t have the reception volume that top prospects often do.

Ruggs is more than a deep threat

He proved that he’s more than just a deep threat with his impressive work turning screens and short throws into big gains, and the fact that he had 24 touchdowns on just 98 catches is incredible efficiency. But speed receivers often struggle to find consistency in the NFL, and Doug Pederson and his offensive staff would need to be creative to get the best out of him.

The Eagles would be a good landing spot for Ruggs long-term if they do trade up, but he’d need them to prioritize him over Jackson early in order to be more than a boom or bust option as a rookie.

Andy Gallagher is a writer for the Pro Football Network covering Fantasy Football. You can follow him @AndySGallagher on Twitter.