Back in 2020, one draft had one of the best and worst picks in Philadelphia Eagles history. Ironically, both players were named Jalen.
It would be the second-round pick, Jalen Hurts, who would become one of Eagles general manager Howie Roseman's most outstanding selections of his career. There was an Eagles selection before Hurts that haunts Roseman to this day.
Bleacher Report writer Matt Holder reminded every NFL team of their worst draft selections and which player would replace them. Going back to that 2020 NFL Draft, the Eagles would like to have their first-round pick back after they selected wide receiver Jalen Reagor.
"Now, the Eagles have been fine, as they’ve made the playoffs in each of the last four seasons, including winning the Super Bowl last February. Also, general manager Howie Roseman made up for his blunder by drafting DeVonta Smith in 2021 and trading for A.J. Brown in 2022.
But taking the TCU wide receiver in the first round will go down as one of the biggest draft whiffs in NFL history, considering the player who was drafted right after him."
Reagor substitution would have changed the Eagles forever
After the Eagles made that infamous pick, the team behind them in the draft, the Minnesota Vikings, couldn't help but laugh as they were about to get the selection they wanted. A selection Eagles fans wanted as well and the one Holder felt the team would take now: Justin Jefferson.
How has Jefferson been since the Vikings picked him? in his five seasons, he's never gone under 1,000 yards in a season, made four Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams, won Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, and current has the NFL record for average receiving yards per game with 96.5.
He's fine. Okay, he might be one of the best wide receivers in NFL history.
What about Reagor? He has 1,037 yards....in five total years in the NFL. Philadelphia kept him on the roster for two years before trading to, ironically, the Vikings in 2022.
Yeah, not as good as Jefferson. Some would say Reagor is a bust.
It's not fun to be so harsh on Reagor. His speed was a big reason Roseman loved him out of college, but it was a big whiff from a general manager who has rarely missed in the last five years.
As Holder said, it's all good now. Smith was selected the next year, and Brown was traded to Philly in 2022 to make one of the best one-two punches at receiver in the NFL. It can be fun to think about how great Jefferson-Smith would be or Jefferson-Brown would be.
The reality is that the Eagles might not have selected Smith or traded for Brown if Jefferson had been on the team. It would be a whole different team.
Good thing the Eagles don't have to worry about that while they stare aimlessly at the Lombardi Trophy they got in February.
