By Stone Loitfellner, Sports Talk Philly Contributing Writer

"If there's one thing that a majority of Philadelphia fans can agree on it's that Howie Roseman and the Eagles need to make the right choice at wide receiver in this year's draft. Not only were the offensive struggles woefully visible throughout the season, but almost the entirety of the receiver corps also underperformed."

This is precisely how I started my rookie receiver wishlist last year. Looking ahead to the 2021 draft, I feel awfully confident in saying the fan base feels the same, with many disappointed in the results of Jalen Reagor's rookie campaign compared to others such as Justin Jefferson, who set an NFL record for rookies with 1,400 receiving yards. Even with Reagor missing time, playing without a traditional offensive coordinator and playing with a struggling Carson Wentz followed by a rookie Jalen Hurts, both of which played behind a damaged offensive line, the fans' frustrations are understandable. Especially since Jefferson was picked immediately after the Eagles selected Reagor (it is worth noting the Vikings had no plan on drafting a receiver until they saw the Eagles passed on Jefferson). 

Although Philly finds themselves in a similar situation to last year, they do have one thing going for them: the sixth overall pick, giving them a high chance of landing one of the top two receivers in the draft. With Jacksonville holding the top pick in the draft, it's more than likely Trevor Lawrence goes first overall. The Jets are next up and could possibly draft a receiver or Penei Sewell, the top-ranked offensive linemen, to help out Sam Darnold. However, the main consensus is Justin Fields going to New York, giving them the number two ranked quarterback in the draft. Things do get a little trickier at the number three pick, which belongs to Miami. The Dolphins could be the team to select the first receiver in the draft to give Tua Tagovail0a a true threat outside of DeVante Parker with many speculating DeVonta Smith to be that receiver since the two have a former connection. On the other hand, if Sewell is there, Miami could use the offensive line help. Arriving at the fourth pick, we stop in Atlanta, who despite a high-scoring offense, find themselves once again with a top pick. Of course, with their defensive woes, the Falcons could take Patrick Surtain II, cornerback out of Alabama. Still, there's a chance Atlanta goes with an offensive selection, even with Julio Jones aging, the Falcons still have young talented receivers in Russell Gage and Calvin Ridley. When it comes to Atlanta's quarterback situation though, it would make sense to prepare for the future with Matt Ryan in the back-half of his career. They could easily do this by taking a quarterback in the draft with some believing the answer to be BYU's Zach Wilson. With four picks out of the way, we're now only one pick away with the Bengals being the last stop before the Eagles' pick. This shouldn't be much of a worry because even with an aging AJ Green (who is set to become a free agent), the Bengals have Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, not to mention a healthy cap situation to bring in another receiver through free agency. They could still help out the new face of the franchise, Joe Burrow, big time by drafting the talented pass-catching tight end out of Florida, Kyle Pitts. If not, the Bengals most likely go defense or offensive line: it simply doesn't make much sense for them to go receiver here.

With all of that being said we arrive at pick six, where Philadelphia fans will eagerly be waiting for what name gets called, hoping for it to be a key piece in the puzzle of getting this team back on track. So let's delve into the rookie receiver wishlist.

1. DeVonta Smith 6'1" 175lbs - Alabama 

The season was definitely an interesting one, like everything else in 2020, but the wide receiver prospect ranking race would've likely been more exciting had Ja'Marr Chase not opted-out for the season. Nonetheless, DeVonta Smith played this past year and it did nothing but boost his stock. Smith let absolutely no one down and flashed his talents all season long, posting 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns off of 117 receptions (15.9 yards per reception) all of which lead the NCAA. To add to his success in 2020, Smith finished the season with six different honors; AP player of the year, Fred Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year as well as the Heisman Trophy. Then, if all of that's not enough, let's bring up his National Championship performance where he managed 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half. It's plenty safe to say that Smith is a highly coveted prospect with an immense amount of talent and upside that can benefit any NFL offense, but if the numbers don't do it for you and you would rather see for yourself, just take a look at this. The main takeaway from watching Smith is that, above all else, he is a true route-running speedster. Although he lacks impressive size and body muscle, he makes up for it with his stalky build, high-pointing of the ball and a strong sense of physicality when needed. Make no mistakes on DeVonta Smith, even if he doesn't look like a DK Metcalf type prospect, he's just as dangerous in his own ways.

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

After a week of Josh McDaniels is the guy talk, the Eagles have found their guy.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the team will be hiring Colts OC Nick Sirianni to be their head caoch instead.

Eagles are hiring Colts' OC Nick Sirianni as their head coach, sources tell ESPN. Sirianni spent three seasons as a Chiefs' assistant coach, five seasons with the Chargers, and the past three with the Colts. Now the 39-year-old Sirianni becomes the lead man in Philadelphia.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 21, 2021

having served as Frank Reich's offensive coordinator for the past few years, his offense has been in the top 10 twice (2018 and 2020) in both yards and points per game, with the one down year (2019) being the season that Andrew Luck retired suddenly during the preseason games. The team still managed to be in the top half of the league in 2019 despite the QBs sudden departure leaving the team without a plan.

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

News broke on Sunday night of two more head coaching moves in the process of finalized.

The Chargers opted to hire Rams DC Brandon Staley and the Lions then quickly moved on Saints assistant Dan Campbell.

With the #Chargers hiring Brandon Staley, and the #Lions now working to finalize a deal with Dan Campbell as their new coach, the only two HC openings left are the Texans and Eagles. In addition, the Falcons can now make official the hire of new GM Terry Fontenot.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2021

The Chargers hiring Staley takes a top candidate off the board as the Eagles did not even get to interview him. It also likely means that the Eagles are unlikely to hire a defensive head coach with Robert Saleh having already been hired for the Jets.

The only other remaining opening is with the Texans, a team whose only positive to a coach would be quarterback Deshaun Watson, who will force his way off the team by all accounts.

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

On Sunday, reports appeared seemingly out of nowhere that head coach Doug Pederson's job was not safe quite yet.

By Monday afternoon, the coach was out as Philly's head coach.

Clearly, his meeting with owner Jeff Laurie did not go well and the team released the below statement from Laurie shortly after the meeting.

pic.twitter.com/0TVbNEPInh

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 11, 2021

The statement says that the two parties will part ways, but does not expressly mention when so the team could potentially get some draft capital back by trading him should someone be interested as the Jets previously were.

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

On Monday, the Eagles took care of some housekeeping.

While there was drama about the Eagles securing the 6th pick on Sunday night and some pressers, but none of that truly has any bearing on the future of the franchise as it is the actions taken (or not taken that matter).

The day after securing that pick, the Eagles took control of 10 players for the 2021 season that would have otherwise been free agents eligible to sign anywhere.

Roster Moves: #Eagles have agreed to terms with DT T.Y. McGill on a one-year contract and signed the following players to reserve/futures contracts. pic.twitter.com/d5gVy6jLjZ

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 4, 2021

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

The Eagles had no chance to get into the playoffs, had 10 players ruled out and still the national media seemed to be appalled by what they saw last night.

A team taking a look at their players without a care in the world if that means they wind up with a better pick? Getting some experience to guys deeper on the depth chart while simultaneously doing what is best for their franchise? Imagine that!

What type of world do we live in where a 6-10 team cannot count on a 4-10-1 team to throw away their best future just so that their other rival can be embarrassed on national TV next week?

This game was an embarrassment, but for other reasons, chiefly that: 1. The NFL thought THIS was a prime game to flex to SNF 2. There is a playoff team with an “elite” defensive line that could barely beat an offensive line starting two tackles no one outside Philadelphia has ever heard of and with Zach Ertz as their top non-OL blocker 3. A playoff team that faced a secondary consisting of just three corners, two of which were UDFA (one whom has been with the team for just a month), and couldn’t figure out how to pass a ball downfield to take advantage of that.

The real embarrassment is that the NFL thought this playoff team, which could barely scrape by a team made up of third and fourth string guys, was worthy of SNF and that teams that couldn’t beat that very team were deserving of more effort to help THEM get into the playoffs as though there were not 15 previous weeks for those other teams to make their playoff destiny not ride on the efforts of a 4-win team.

As for the Eagles, they appeared to look pretty good, though how much of that is how awful Washington is remains up in the air.

By Matt Ryan, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

The 6-9 Washington Football Team visits the 4-10-1 Eagles in the final game of the regular season. The Eagles are eliminated from playoff contention, but they look to play spoiler to Washington. The Eagles have played well, but trail 17-14 at the break. Here's what we saw in the first 30 minutes of action:

QB Jalen Hurts

Hurts had a solid first half, finishing with 65 passing yards and rushing for 27 yards and two touchdowns, however, Hurts did throw one interception. If Hurts can continue this play in the second half, the Birds should be able to win this game and eliminate the Washingtion Football Team from playoff contention.

LB Alex Singleton

Singleton had an amazing first half, finishing with 10 tackles, eight of them being solo tackles, and one being a sack which was on third down.

The Eagles Secondary

The Eagles Secondary didn’t have a good first half, giving up 118 yards and two touchdowns. The Birds’ secondary needs to play better in the final 30 minutes for the Eagles to come away from this game with a win.

DE Chase Young

Young had a decent first half, finishing with one tackle, which was a sack. The Eagles need to watch out for Young in the final two quarters.

By Evan Krawczuk, Contributing Writer

This nightmare of a season finally come to an end on Sunday Night Football against a team that does not have a name but with the playoffs on their mind. It may be the last time the Eagles see some franchise favorites like Ertz, Kelce, Wentz and Jason Peters on the sideline. With that being said, there are also a lot of injuries keeping some studs out in this game that means the Playoffs for Washington. 

Injury Report 

Philadelphia Eagles 

Out

Carson Wentz QB

Wentz is a healthy scratch this week. Potentially keeping him healthy for trade opportunities. We may have seen the last of Wentz as an Eagle.

Richard Rodgers TE

Richard Rodgers had been a sort of safety blanket at points this season when Ertz and Goedert had missed time. Not this week. Rodgers is out this week with an ankle injury.

Derek Barnett DE

A big loss on the defensive front this week. Barnett is out this week with a calf injury. Genard Avery will see more time this week due to the injuries.

Shaun Bradley LB

The rookie linebacker was out all this week with a neck injury. Bradley had played well on special teams and decent in short stints at linebacker.

Fletcher Cox DT

Fletch is out with a neck injury. One of the corner stones of this Eagles defense for a long time. No need to risk any further injury with Cox, he’s out this week.

Dallas Goedert TE

Goedert is out with a calf injury. With Goedert and Rodgers both being out, it leads the way for Ertz to be the shining star at tight end in what may be his last game as an Eagle.

Desean Jackson WR

The speedster played and scored last week in his first week back from the ankle injury. That ankle is an issue again and Jackson will be out.

Jordan Mailata T

Mailata has been very good this year. Unfortunately, Jaylon Smith launched himself at Mailata’s head last week and he has a concussion. Brett Toth will be starting at tackle.

Duke Riley LB

Riley was limited this week with a bicep injury. He was officially ruled out and will be replaced by Joe Bachie.

Miles Sanders RB

Sanders is dealing with a knee injury. Even if Sanders was 100% it wouldn’t make a ton of sense to risk the future of this Eagles offense in a meaningless game.

Nickell Robey-Coleman DB

Robey-Coleman is dealing with an illness and will be out this week. It seems like it’ll be a secondary by committee type situation for Week 17.

Questionable

Michael Jacquet CB

Jacquet was limited in practice this week with a calf injury. Although he played very poorly last week, there's not much depth left in this Eagles secondary.

Washington Football Team

Out

Thomas Davis LB

The wily veteran is out for this week matchup with a knee injury. Davis has had knee troubles all of his career and is getting up there in age, so this isn’t a huge surprise.

 Questionable

Antonio Gibson RB

 Gibson did not practice all week with a toe injury. He is still a game time decision but if he doesn’t play Washington has a formidable backup in J.D. McKissic.

Terry McLaurin WR

McLaurin has been a dynamic receiver this  season but could be out for week 17 with an ankle injury. McLaurin’s absence could loom large for the already decimated Eagle’s secondary, though recent reports seem to indicate he will play.

Alex Smith QB

Smith was limited this week but was announced the starter for Sunday Night Football. Smith is as tough as they come and should be a frontrunner for the comeback player of the year award.

Kevin Pierre-Louis LB

Pierre-Louis was limited this week in practice with an ankle injury and is still a game time decision. If Pierre-Louis is unable to play he will be replaced by Khaleke Hudson.  

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

On Saturday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Eagles DC Jim Schwartz will not be with the team in 2021.

The veteran coach is expected to let his contract retire and take a year off as he contemplates retirement.

Meanwhile Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports Doug Pederson is expected back in 2021 with personnel changes.

With @TomPelissero’s news that #Eagles DC Jim Schwartz won’t return, Doug Pederson is expected back with significant staff changes. More here: https://t.co/abPjrC05Se

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 2, 2021