The Eagles have had success finding wide receivers in the third round. It’s just been a little while.
Fred Barnett was a 3rd-round pick in 1990 and had two 1,000-yard seasons and made a Pro Bowl. Ben Hawkins was a 3rd-rounder in 1966 and led the NFL in receiving a year later and finished his Eagles career with nearly 5,000 yards. And the Eagles found Hall of Famer Tommy McDonald in the 3rd-round in 1957.
Since Barnett? Chris T. Jones in 1995, Billy McMullen in 2003 and Josh Huff in 2014. We won’t talk about them.
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But you can find quality receivers in the third round. T.O., Steve Smith and Hines Ward were all 3rd-round picks. Among active receivers, T.Y. Hilton, Emmanuel Sanders and Keenan Allen were 3rd-round picks. So were Chris Godwin, Michael Gallup and Terry McLaurin.
Even if the Eagles take a receiver in the first or second round, it wouldn’t surprise anybody if they snagged another one in the third round, where they currently have the 103rd pick.
Today let’s take a look at potential 3rd-round help.
NFL
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
Are you ready for the Eagles to draft someone named Donovan again? Peoples-Jones came out of Detroit as a big-time prospect but never came close to becoming the player Michigan expected. He’s 6-2, 215 and has good hands but average speed and will probably be a slot in the NFL.
Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
Raw prospect with intriguing tools and a world of up-side. Gandy-Golden handled Liberty’s adjustment from the FCS to the FBS with two 1,000-yard seasons against better competition. He’s got size, production and toughness but still needs to refine his game, especially his route running.
Devin Duvernay, Texas
Sure-handed, fast and powerful deep threat who is more of a one-dimensional player than the Eagles may want considering his lack of experience against press coverage and lack of polish as a route runner.
Van Jefferson, Florida
Like wide receiver prospects Jalen Reagor and Michael Pittman and safety prospect Antoine Winfield Jr., Jefferson is also the son of a long-time NFL player. He’s also a likely slot in the NFL. Jefferson never had more than 657 yards in his four seasons at Mississippi and Florida but has the speed and route running ability to make a difference in the NFL.
K.J. Hill, Ohio State
Steady slot receiver who averaged only 11.2 yards per catch this year and 11.6 for his career. Not explosive but is a smart, sure-handed receiver not unlike his mentor, former Buckeye Cris Carter – an Eagles’ supplemental pick in 1987 and a Hall of Famer.
Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
Interesting prospect who was very productive in college but has only average speed and hasn’t shown a consistent ability to separate from above-average corners. He’s got some real strengths and a good knack for rising up and snagging contested balls. But how high is his ceiling?
Gabriel Davis, Central Florida
Super productive this past season with 1,241 yards, 12 TDs and 17.2 yards per catch. How will that translate to the NFL? He’s not considered a great route runner and his middle-of-the-road speed – he ran a pedestrian 4.54 at the combine – won’t do him any favors trying to get open.
Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
Because of his injuries, he could be a reach in the third round. My colleague Dave Zangaro has Edwards going (to the Eagles) in the fourth round. And he was prone to drops in college. But he’s got great size and – when healthy – great speed and playing four years in the SEC certainly has him prepared to face NFL corners.
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