Philadelphia Eagles select Jalen Reagor in 2020 NFL Draft: Grading the pick
By Samuel Teets
The Philadelphia Eagles surprised fans by selecting wide receiver Jalen Reagor with the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
With the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles both surprised and terrified their fans by drafting TCU’s Jalen Reagor. Philadelphia needed a wide receiver desperately, especially after the position suffered serious injuries down the stretch in the 2019 regular season.
In 2019, the Eagles saw DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside all deal with with injuries and inconsistencies. Greg Ward emerged as the team’s top receiver by the playoffs, and Carson Wentz turned entirely to his tight ends and Miles Sanders for receiving production. No one doubted the Eagles would take a receiver, but no one saw Reagor coming when Justin Jefferson was on the board.
One pick after the Eagles bit on TCU’s dynamic playmaker, the Minnesota Vikings made the right selection and took LSU’s Justin Jefferson. Jefferson set several team records with the Tigers last year when the team won a National Championship. Reagor battled inconsistent quarterback play and sometimes got in his own way.
Reagor fell to 10th place on my wide receiver big board entering the draft. He ranked below Brandon Aiyuk (ninth), Denzel Mims (eighth), Michael Pittman Jr. (seventh), Laviska Shenault Jr. (sixth), Tee Higgins (fifth), and Jefferson (fourth). All six of those wide receivers remained on the board when Philadelphia took Reagor. That alone drops this grade by a whole letter.
Pick Analysis. TCU. player. Scouting Report. WR. Jalen Reagor. C-. 49
Reagor is a playmaker, but that doesn’t mean he’s a quality receiver. At times, Reagor loses focus and drops passes. His consistency as a receiver raises some questions. However, when Reagor gets the ball in his hands, he can torch defenses, as evidenced by his two punt return touchdowns in 2019.
Next. 2020 NFL Draft grades: Instant analysis of every first-round pick. dark
Scouts love Reagor’s speed, which is the direction the league is trending in terms of wide receiver play, but that’s no replacement for development and skill. Reagor’s attitude is also in question. When he struggles, Reagor tends to lose his cool, either lashing out at opposing defensive backs or his own quarterback. Not a great pick by Philadelphia.