Philadelphia Eagles must use free agency to help Carson Wentz
By Joe Kipp
The Philadelphia Eagles have used free agency in the past to bolster their roster in big ways. The time is now to give Carson Wentz more weapons.
Signing free agents has never been a problem for the Philadelphia Eagles under the guidance of executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman. In recent years, the Eagles’ front office has gone above and beyond to bolster their roster through free agency.
After a lackluster season in 2019, however, the team must equip Carson Wentz with more weapons if the offense is to exceed expectations this coming season. Even as the face of the Eagles’ franchise, Wentz can’t do it all himself.
During the 2019 season, Wentz became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards without a wide receiver recording more than 500 receiving yards. Of course, part of that was a result of injuries, but the Eagles failed to give Wentz what he needed to succeed last season.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
That’s why the team must make one final splash in free agency at the receiver position before all is said and done. Equipped with roughly $33 million in cap space as of March 22, the Eagles have plenty of cash to spend on a marquee free agent.
Neither Alshon Jeffery or DeSean Jackson — Philadelphia’s top two receivers at the moment — shouldn’t be relied on to be the team’s No. 1 receiver going forward. Jeffery, 30, hasn’t played a full season since 2017. Meanwhile, Jackson, 33, hasn’t played a full season since 2013, and only played in three games last season.
The Eagles do have one of the best tight ends in the league, Zach Ertz, and what appears to be a rising star in Dallas Goedert. But we saw what happens when the team lacks a legitimate receiving threat on the outside boundary last season.
During the Eagles’ final stretch, rookie Greg Ward, a former college quarterback at Houston, became the team’s de facto No. 1 receiver. It was a near miracle what Wentz was able to accomplish with the supporting cast that surrounded him in the second half of the season.
Next. 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Post-free agency 3-round mock. dark
The time is now for Roseman and the Eagles’ front office to make a move. NFL free agency is just getting started, but the team has already missed out on some intriguing names. Adding a veteran playmaker like Robby Anderson, Breshad Perriman, Demarcus Robinson or Taylor Gabriel would only help the Eagles’ chances of getting back to the promised land.