Philadelphia Eagles Offseason Free Agency Guide - Part 5: Wide Receivers

by Bob_Q on Feb 14, 2010 3:23 PM EST

The trading/free agent signing period is fast approaching, so the Eagles front office will have to decide who they plan to pursue come March 5th. Over the next few weeks at BGN, we will be taking a position-by-position look at who we could see in an Eagles uniform come training camp. Today's position? Wide receivers.

Now that the starting wide receiver positions have finally been solidified with talented young players DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, it's time for the Eagles to turn their attention to the backups. Monster slot receiver Jason Avant has not been re-signed yet. Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis are in the twilight of their careers and present little value to the team anymore. There's always a chance that practice squad receivers Jordan Norwood or Dobson Collins could be the roster success stories of 2010, but who's going to take that gamble? The Eagles need some depth at this position and they need it quickly. Here are a few options:

Arnaz Battle (UFA): The 29 year old 49ers receiver could provide some veteran leadership to a young receiving corps. He is a very physical player who can block well and produce yards after the catch. He is also a converted quarterback, so the Eagles coaching staff would have the option of using him on a gadget play or two. The main drawback to Battle, however, is his lack of speed. He would be a good sub in at slot receiver in Philadelphia, but probably nothing more.

Kassim Osgood (UFA): The former undrafted rookie free agent has made great strides since being signed by the Chargers during the 2003 offseason. This giant of a receiver uses his 6'5" 220 lb frame to his advantage, working the middle of the field and always going up to win the jump ball. While certainly not the fastest receiver on the field, his physicality can help the team out not only on offense, but also on special teams. In fact, Osgood has been to the 2006, 2007, and 2009 Pro Bowls representing the AFC in special teams.

Bobby Wade (UFA): The 28 year old Wade has bounced around the NFL during his eight seasons, playing for the Bears, Titans, Vikings, and most recently, the Chiefs. He has the frame and elusiveness of DeSean Jackson, but not anywhere near the speed. While he is very good at making defenders miss in the open field, his lack of physicality and unwillingness to go over the middle will relegate him to a role player if signed, likely to be #4 on the depth chart.

Other Available Free Agents:

In the next installment, we will be taking a look at offensive tackles. Feel free to leave any suggestions on who to examine in the comments section. For more information on unrestricted vs. restricted free agents in a potentially uncapped year, check out this great article over at Mocking The Draft.

Previous articles: QB, HB, FB, TE

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Comments

Kassim Osgood...

Didn’t realize he was a FA. Elite football player. Don’t care how loaded we may or may not be at WR – I’d love to see Kassim Osgood covering kicks and punts for us.

by JimmyK on Feb 14, 2010 3:39 PM EST reply actions

Terrell Owens.

roflmao

To me the Eagles are like that girlfriend that pisses u off, then u hate her, but the next morning you wake up and remember that thing u love so much about her

by XxBleedGreen5xX on Feb 14, 2010 4:38 PM EST reply actions

Malcoom Floyd or Chris Chambers

eff you we winning anyway
A.I. IS BACKKKKKKK

by eagleswin on Feb 14, 2010 4:51 PM EST reply actions

Floyd's an RFA...

He’d likely cost a high pick.

by JimmyK on Feb 14, 2010 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

Avant

I kind of wonder what interest Avant is going to draw from other teams especially teams that are looking for a proven slot WR who can also do several other minor things well (e.g., block downfield, high energy guy).

Pretty likely the Eagles will do what it take to Weaver but I could see them letting Avant walk if the price gets too rich for them.

by MG77 on Feb 14, 2010 5:11 PM EST reply actions

Of we tender Avant, we’ll get a draft pick from any team that signs him. If the Eagles can’t get contracts done with Weaver/Avant soon, they tender both players at a level that will make teams uninterested in signing them and losing high picks. There’s very little worry that Avant and/or Weaver won’t be Eagles next season.

by JimmyK on Feb 14, 2010 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

Breaston

Would be one guy I would love to see come to Philly. Not a burner but he runs good routes, has very good hands, and can make people miss in the open field with some nice moves.

Ideal target who could complement Jackson and Maclin on the outside and give McNabb/Kolb a veteran target who they can rely upon to make a difficult catch and hang on during on 3rd down.

Breaston could also be a KR guy here too if needed. Wouldn’t necessary want to see him starting in that role but he could depth be a No. 2 option (or a No. 1 if needed).

Too bad he is a RFA and I can’t see the Cards letting him go.

by MG77 on Feb 14, 2010 5:16 PM EST reply actions

Osgood

Looks interesting because the Eagles’ special teams could always use another legit cover guy and I wonder if Osgood could be the taller, physical WR that they have been desperately lacking in the red zone the past few years.

by MG77 on Feb 14, 2010 5:20 PM EST reply actions

Red zone..

Is it we don’t have a threat or our play calling in short yardage downs lacking?

by Dmyth13 on Feb 14, 2010 10:42 PM EST up reply actions

Avant

Worried FO won’t know how good they have it until he’s gone. If they fail to lock up Avant, I’ll be sending a world of wrath their way.

by andyreidswaistline on Feb 14, 2010 5:38 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

by LegendKnight22 on Feb 14, 2010 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

never can hav enuff good players.......

i really like Kevin Walter and or Nate Burelson, i think they would fit into our offense really good if we are 2 lose Avant. Plus we wouldnt hav 2 break the bank on adding either of these 2 vets.

by goldenbird09 on Feb 14, 2010 5:40 PM EST reply actions

i like walter, furry (special teams too), osgood but love josh reed as a vet and pretty vconsistant

by NJEagle on Feb 14, 2010 6:11 PM EST reply actions

It would be nice...

To have a WR 6’3 or taller and over 200 lbs! Doesn’t have to be a #1 but a guy who can bully DB’s. I think that’s one component we are missing on offense. Even though Ingram is a TE hopefully he can help us out in that area. But I still would like a WR with some legit size!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Feb 14, 2010 6:30 PM EST reply actions

tru!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEVIN WALTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by goldenbird09 on Feb 14, 2010 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

Avant >>>>>> Walter

by andyreidswaistline on Feb 14, 2010 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

No doubt.............

i agree with that 100% but if we lose avant u have 2 admit Kwalter would be a nice pickup, hes a great target in the redzone and could be a answer 2 sum of our redzone problems with his size.

by goldenbird09 on Feb 15, 2010 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

The WR situation makes me a little bitter. Specifically, I’m talking about the fact that we used Gibson to get Witherspoon. I am glad we got Witherspoon, but did we really have to give up Gibson? Remember preseason last year?

Jackson
Maclin
Avant
Curtis
Baskett
Brown
Gibson

I understand that the Eagles only spent a 6th round pick on the guy, but he showed promise and was the second leading receiver for the Rams, despite playing only 9 games.

If we had Gibson, we would have 0 questions at WR. None. Gibson would probably be our fourth and honestly, who gives a damn who our fifth is? Reggie Brown and especially Kevin Curtis are unlikely to stick around for this year. We could end up drafting 2 WRs this year, and if we had Gibson we would be taking one less.

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Feb 14, 2010 6:30 PM EST reply actions

If Avant is back, though, I can’t see how Gibson could get on the field. Reggie Brown will be back next year because it costs more to cut him than to keep him. For as much as he has been a disappointment, you could do worse with a 4th receiver.

by zfg on Feb 14, 2010 7:03 PM EST up reply actions

No I agree yomjoseki

We DID need a LB..but I had said at the beginning of the season that we should either put Curtis on IR or trade him. Yes I know his salary was/is pretty high, but the guy had too many injury problems. If we would’ve just done the right thing (IMO) which was keep Baskett allowing us to use him for trade factors. We could’ve then traded Baskett and Curtis or Brown to the Rams for Spoon! Allowing us to keep Gibson. All in all my point is, (after we got rid of Baskett) I would’ve used Curtis or Brown (mainly Brown) for the trade not Gibson.

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Feb 14, 2010 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

The Rams wouldn’t take Brown, Baskett or Curtis. Witherspoon is a good linebacker; they have to get something in return. Gibson has potential, which is important for a team in super rebuilding mode like the Rams. None of the other receivers have potential.

by zfg on Feb 14, 2010 7:45 PM EST up reply actions

There was potential.

I mean that Brown, Baskett, or Curtis would sit the bench even on an abysmal team such as the Rams. LOL

by Cowboy KILLER on Feb 14, 2010 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

How did they know that Gibson had potential?!

Of course Gibson has potential now..we can all see that. In the preseason we saw that he was pretty good, but almost everyone looks good in the preseason. And into the season he was sitting on the bench bcuz of a numbers game. No teams really knew enough about him when he was with us. For that reason we still didnt have to trade him away and could’ve tried to trade Brown and or Curtis and a late rounder for Spoon. But it’s over now! It is what it is..moving on.

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Feb 14, 2010 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

Uh, they realized his potential from his body of work? Granted there wasn’t a lot of game tape to look at but they obviously saw enough to like him and take him off our hands. Not only that, but a lot of Eagles fans were disappointed he left. Maybe if you pay attention or something? I mean it was pretty apparent that Gibson wasn’t your typical 6th round quality player… a lot of people felt that way.

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Feb 14, 2010 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

You are right..

A lot of people had him 3-4 rd the year before. But in his sr year they played revolving QB’s and his numbers suffered A LOT!! Cut in half. So he dropped. He will be better than Heyward-Bay over Bays short career.

by Dmyth13 on Feb 14, 2010 10:52 PM EST up reply actions

What??!

Maybe if you pay attention or something?

Guess u didnt read my previous comment when I AGREED with u. You misread what I was saying here. In my previous comment I said we should’ve KEPT Gibson and traded Brown and or Curtis!! Haha wow, talk about jumping the gun! I thought we were on the same page here.

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Feb 14, 2010 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Did you even read that guy's post?

Rams would not have taken Brown, Baskett, or Curtis. Brown has an unfavorable contract attached to his name, Baskett sucks, and Curtis is too old. Why would the Rams (who are rebuilding) want any of these guys?

Gibson on the other hand, is very young and has a lot of potential. How did they know Gibson had potential? Maybe because they have scouts on their team just like other 31 teams in the league? They were impressed with Gibson and saw enough good things about him to make a play for him. His youth helped seal the deal for the Rams.

by chrisbeomsuh on Feb 15, 2010 12:50 AM EST up reply actions

hahah

quit bitching about brandon gibson .. he will never be more than a greg lewis ..at best hes a number 4 or 5

by jack is better than asante on Feb 15, 2010 1:31 AM EST up reply actions

Not bitching about him

Just responding to the dude as to why the Rams wanted Gibson as opposed to Brown, Baskett, or Curtis. We had a clear need for a LB so I’m very happy that we got Spoon.

by chrisbeomsuh on Feb 15, 2010 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

No one knows what any team would do or who the would take!

We took Michael Vick. Who in the world thought that the Eagles, of all teams, would pick-up Michael Vick. Or even taking Jeremy Maclin in the first round of last years draft. No one saw that coming by ANY means. So u never know what a team might do, or what they’re actually thinking.! That all im saying..And its not even a big deal anymore..its over!!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Feb 15, 2010 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

actually

jason b called maclin lol ill give him his due for that

by jack is better than asante on Feb 15, 2010 10:37 PM EST up reply actions

r u kidding

Witherspoon is a near pro bowl line backer. you’e pissed we gave up a 4th or 5th WR for him?

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Feb 14, 2010 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

copy that

getting a solid veteran LB for a 6th round rookie+a 5th round pick? that’s a good trade in my book

by alcatraz0109 on Feb 14, 2010 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

Spoon is not a near Pro Bowler

But he filled a real need at a time when the Eagles were desperate especially after Gaither’s injury. Spoon played pretty well given that he was in a new system and was shifted around to all 3 LBs positions this season.

2 seasons of a solid veteran LB isn’t a bad deal for what would be 4th WR on this team.

by MG77 on Feb 14, 2010 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

Seriously, I hear u

Spoon is not a near Pro Bowler

Agreed!! He did a decent job coming in and helping us. He did make a positive impact on our defense. But near pro bowler..I think not!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Feb 14, 2010 9:32 PM EST up reply actions

wow

spoon < bradley .. u guys are idiots for real .. who the fuck cares about greg lewis jr

by jack is better than asante on Feb 15, 2010 1:32 AM EST up reply actions

I would comment to you, but I know ur a jokester around here!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Feb 15, 2010 11:04 AM EST up reply actions

sound the alarms...

JIBTA compliminted bradley…i don’t believe it.

"Eagles fans are a passionate group who love their team," said McNabb, "if not the actual players. It's not like winning a Super Bowl before the first month of the season is the hardest thing they've ever asked of me. That'd be all those times they asked me to go kill myself."

by greenbean#twoOH on Feb 15, 2010 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure he meant

Spoon > Bradley

by chrisbeomsuh on Feb 15, 2010 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

hahaha...

i know what he meant…i was busting his balls…

by greenbean#twoOH on Feb 15, 2010 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

noo

i was saying spoon < bradley ..u guys are idiots .. i was saying wha u think .. and than followed it up by ur an idiot haha .. but spoon is clearly our best LB

by jack is better than asante on Feb 15, 2010 10:38 PM EST up reply actions

jitbta...you're making no sense.

if spoon is clearly our best LB then spoon > bradley…(spoon is greater than bradley)
you put spoon < bradley …(spoon is less than bradley)….so wtf are you talkin about…. you’re sayin spoon isn’t as good as bradley, but somehow he’s our best LB??

by greenbean#twoOH on Feb 16, 2010 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

If you were able to read and comprehend the English language, you’d understand that I felt it possible to not only acquire Witherspoon but… gasp retain Gibson as well.

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Feb 14, 2010 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

if you're evolved enough on the evolution chart

you would understand that ST louis isn’t just going to GIVE him away they’re going to want something in return. a young WR with some upside is what they watne.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Feb 15, 2010 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

ehh

he was just a throw in .. hes not that good .. they wanted the pick

by jack is better than asante on Feb 15, 2010 10:39 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, we could’ve given them a higher pick or even a 4th and Laws or something. They wanted something in return? No shit. I still think we could’ve and should’ve held onto Gibson. It’s not that big of a deal because we still have Jackson and Maclin, but I think Gibson has the potential to be a very good second WR in this league.

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Feb 16, 2010 9:58 PM EST up reply actions

I was upset..

That Gibson had to go. You also forgot Amendola. He would of been nice to have him after Hobbs went down for KR’s. I think Gibson has a chance to be special…

Last year we had too many WR’s to put on the field. This year its QB’s. I like these kind of problems!

by Dmyth13 on Feb 14, 2010 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I was actually more upset about us losing Amendola off of the practice squad because we got nothing for him in return. He could have really contributed this year and in 2010 with his return skills and speed.

by Bob_Q on Feb 14, 2010 10:54 PM EST up reply actions

funny though...

they both are on the rams now…

by greenbean#twoOH on Feb 15, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

I'd love to get Kevin Walter

but we have bigger needs, and he’d probably command some $

"EFF YOU, WE'RE WINNING ANYWAY!!!!!!" (Bye, Dawk)

by jalarsen1 on Feb 14, 2010 6:50 PM EST reply actions

walter was a huge sleeper on my 08 fantasy team...

helped me get to the championship game.

by awd777 on Feb 14, 2010 10:09 PM EST up reply actions

walter

probably the only one that i would want the eagles to get, on that list anyway. i’d rather a large wr to be drafted late…..such as…….seyi ajirotutu Fresno St…6’4" 210….or Johnny Spevak, Central Washington..6’3" 200…these guys should be around late in the draft.

by greenbean#twoOH on Feb 14, 2010 7:56 PM EST reply actions

TO!!

Bring back TO!!!!!!

by jack is better than asante on Feb 14, 2010 8:28 PM EST reply actions

good luck on that one, JIBTA.

that dog won’t hunt.

"it's like i tell my ex-wife, i never drive faster than i can see, and besides it's all in the reflexes." -Jack Burton, Big trouble in little China

by snowhill82 on Feb 15, 2010 4:23 AM EST up reply actions

are WRs will be fine

We’ll probably draft one and sign a bargain binner.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Feb 14, 2010 8:36 PM EST reply actions

are != our

I am the people's troll :3™

by yomjoseki on Feb 14, 2010 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

Arnaz Battle is only 29??

He has had a good career, but I thought he was 5 years older than that. He was at best the #4 receiver in San Francisco, and was lousy at returns. Anybody who takes a chance on him has channeled Al Davis.

by Rabbit T on Feb 15, 2010 9:04 AM EST reply actions

if we lost avant, i would be happy with arnaz battle.

the way i see it they’re pretty similar. they both make the tough catch over the middle. they both lack elite speed. i want avant to stay, but i think his would be a good consolation prize.

"it's like i tell my ex-wife, i never drive faster than i can see, and besides it's all in the reflexes." -Jack Burton, Big trouble in little China

by snowhill82 on Feb 16, 2010 2:05 AM EST up reply actions

I like the idea...

… of dumping Desean, Maclin and Avant. Who needs that talent? Then we can get Greg (one catch) Lewis, Dontpay Stallworth and Hank Buckett all back on the team. Maybe Freddme Mitchell can be coaxed out of retirement… We should keep Reggie Brown, though. I just know this will be his break out season.

by IggleGreen on Feb 16, 2010 10:45 PM EST reply actions

Please note that I left out "He who shall not be named".

You know, that WR who goes by a two letter nickname that used to be on the team? Even when I jest, I would never say he should return to the Eagles. That would be the same kind of bad taste as making fun of someone’s dead mother.

by IggleGreen on Feb 16, 2010 10:49 PM EST up reply actions