So many receivers, so little time, so let’s go ahead and lump two together. Recent reports tied the Eagles to Terrelle Pryor of the Cleveland Browns and Kenny Britt of the Los Angeles Rams, because this is Philadelphia, and the people here love their wideouts.
That’s only half of a joke, by the way. I unknowingly launched my career 10 years ago by explaining the Eagles could not trade a second-round draft pick for either Anquan Boldin or Roy Williams. Clearly, very little has changed, as the exact same point is being made today about Brandin Cooks, but perhaps that's getting a bit off topic.
The Pryor and Britt rumors don’t differ much from any other. The Eagles need a receiver, quality players are available, so naturally they’re a fit, Never mind that people inexplicably believe the Eagles should trade their only decent, extremely underrated receiver – sorry, off topic again.
Okay, let’s quick take these two down.
As far as Pryor is concerned, without a doubt one of the most intriguing players hitting the market. It’s unclear why the Browns, who literally have $100 million to spend, would allow one of their only good players to reach the market, but they are the Browns, so let’s not look too deeply into it.
Pryor has a limited body of work, beings as he was a quarterback two years ago, but went over 1,000 yards receiving his first full season playing the position. Sure, the Eagles would love to develop that talent.
So would 31 other teams.
NFL
The Eagles organization is known for doing its due diligence, as I'm sure all organizations are. That's not to discount the club’s interest in Pryor, but merely contact an impending free agent at a position of need isn’t even exciting at this point.
Let’s spice things up a little. Not only is Britt a reality television “star” (Splash, Ramily!), but he actually hails from the Philadelphia area in much the same way Mike Trout does. Which is to say Britt isn’t a native at all, but he might pop up at the airport or Atlantic City, which is basically the same thing.
All joking aside, Britt does have a logical connection to the Eagles in recently hired wide receivers coach Mike Groh, who held the same position with the Rams in 2016. That also happened to be by far Britt’s best season as a pro, cracking 1,000 yards receiving for the first time, so the connection actually makes a lot of sense.
And unlike most of the wideouts the Eagles are being linked to, they can probably afford Britt. He’s a nine-year veteran who is closing in on 30 and has probably had two of his top-three best games against the Eagles (only a slight exaggeration). Given the cap situation, he’s exactly the kind of bargain they need.
Yet, as much as Britt might fit, so would Pryor, DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, Pierre Garcon, Kenny Stills, Brandin Cooks and somebody else we’re purposely leaving out in an effort to get one last post out of all this. The Eagles need receivers, as always, and as always, they’re linked to all of them.
So are either Pryor or Britt the guy? They’re not the least likely options, anyway.
Rating the Rumor: Who can tell at this point?