The Eagles picked an opportune time to desperately need wide receiver help. The team arrived at the NFL scouting combine earlier this week and now has a chance to dig into a wide receiver class many consider the best in recent memory. The group has top-end prospects like Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, solid mid-first-round options like LSU’s Justin Jefferson, Alabama burner Henry Ruggs, and Clemson’s Tee Higgins, and touted Day 2 prospects like Penn State’s KJ Hamler.



The Eagles had one of the least productive receiving corps in the NFL last season after Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, and Nelson Agholor all went from Week 1 starters to injured and underperforming. Jackson missed almost the entire season with an abdomen injury. Jeffery and Agholor struggled to make an impact before both players eventually finished the year sidelined. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, who the team took in the second round of last year’s draft, also struggled.

The versatility of the class gives the Eagles options. Jefferson is a bigger receiver and a more polished route-runner, while Hamler and Ruggs are both freak athletes with elite speed. Hamler won’t run the 40-yard dash at the combine after tweaking his hamstring in training, but the 5-foot-9 wideout said he ran 4.27 during training and plans to post a similar time at Penn State’s Pro Day next month.


Ruggs will run the 40-yard dash later this week and is expected to challenge John Ross’ record-setting 4.22-second time. The 5-foot-11 Alabama native was a popular choice for the Eagles in early mock drafts, but NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks Ruggs climbed draft boards enough already that he won’t be around for them at No. 21.