Weapon X Mailbag: Is Travis Fulgham legit?

I want to wish happy belated birthday to Brian Dawkins, the namesake of my little mailbag, who turned 47 yesterday. B-Dawk forever.

Let’s get to the questions!

@SwanRon42749513: Is Travis Fulgham better than Jerry Rice or just better than T.O.?

Unfortunately for Eagles fans, I think Fulgham’s career trajectory will be closer to Terrell Owens than that of Jerry Rice. I guess we’ll have to settle for that All-Pro production.

@VEWoods10: Do you think Travis Fulgham can maintain a consistent level of play like he’s displayed the past two weeks?

Hall of Fame jokes aside (half-jokes?), games like Fulgham’s for a player as young as him (he turned 25 last month), aren’t as fluky as you might initially think. I wrote about this yesterday in my Philly sports newsletter, From Broad Street with Love (you should definitely subscribe!), but here are some numbers for you, courtesy of sports-reference’s Stathead feature:

There have been 52 instances of wide receivers at 25 or younger who’ve had games of at least 10 catches, 152 receiving yards and a touchdown this century. Sure, there’s an Austin Collie and a Brian Hartline (WHO?) on there, but the list is populated with perennial Pro Bowlers and studs.

Julio Jones. Odell Beckham Jr. Larry Fitzgerald. Anquan Boldin. You don’t just fall ass-backwards into performances like the one Fulgham had against Pittsburgh. It takes talent, football IQ and determination.

There’s a legitimate chance Fulgham can be an above-average starting wideout for this team for the 2020 season and beyond. Signing a guy off your practice squad 11 days ago and then him turning into a key contributor going forward? As Professor Hulk would say, “I see this as an absolute win!”

For a team that has been desperately, DESPERATELY lacking capable youngsters at wideout like the Eagles, Fulgham being a legit diamond in the rough could be a silver lining from this otherwise infuriating Eagles season.

Carson Wentz clearly trusts him more than J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. John Hightower, who I was quite high on during training camp, has made numerous mental mistakes. Greg Ward has been nice, but he’s ultimately Greg Ward. Jalen Reagor is out. Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson may never take a snap again as Eagles for all we know. Hope is free and Fulgham is supplying it aplenty. I’m buying in.

Have I already bought a custom Fulgham shirsey for $30 from the NFL’s website? Yes, of course I have. The estimated delivery is October 30. Perfect timing for that weekend’s battle for the NFC Least between the Birds and the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

@TheJakeEvansX: If you were Howie Roseman who would be off limits at the deadline?

Uhhh... no one? This team is old, expensive and bad. You don’t want to be any of these things. I touched upon this in last week’s mailbag when I said I’d bet on the Eagles being buyers, that’s just their M.O. I don’t see them selling, unfortunately so, as that’d be the best move for the future health of the franchise.

If we’re dealing in hypotheticals, I’d be nearing fire sell territory if I was Howie Roseman. On a team devoid of young talent, I’d be stripping parts. Zach Ertz? He might be washed. I would be astonished if he’s on the team Week 1 of the 2021 season. Get a Day 2 pick while you can. Fletcher Cox? He might be a cap casualty this offseason. Same philosophy.

JJAW? Conditional ninth rounder and he’s yours. Alshon and DeSean? Get their salaries off the books for literally a ham sandwich (I don’t even like ham!).

There’s just no real young stud on this team. If someone wanted to part with a first for Miles Sanders, I’d do it! That’s where we are with this team. It sucks. I know it’s best for them to tear it down, but I’m going to be rooting for a back-to-back division title with a disgusting 6-9-1 record anyway like a sicko.

Oh, the one guy who’s actually off limits? Future Hall of Famer Travis Fulgham.

@alex252: Who’s the last player Eagles fandom hated as much as Nate Gerry?

I hate to break it to you, Alex, but I’ve seen other Eagles get way more shit than Nathan Gerry even as he’s become the personification of this nauseating season. Look no further than last year, as Super Bowl hero Nelson Agholor become a national meme in the aftermath of the “Unlike Agholor” game in Week 2 down in Atlanta. Fans hated him so much that they collectively forgot he had nine catches and 93 yards from scrimmage against the Patriots in February 2018. Now that’s hate!

Nnamdi Asomugha was definitely hated more. DeMarco Murray probably too. Bryron Maxwell possibly? Riley Cooper is certainly up there. These are only guys who’ve been around since late teens and on. We didn’t even get to the James Thrashes and Todd Pinkstonses of Eagles lore.

I respect your question, Alex, but hating ain’t new to Eagles fans!