NFL Free Agency: Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, or Torrey Smith?
By Luke Sims
Dec 20, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) catches the ball as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) defends in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
"He might not be as productive away from Chip Kelly’s system. We suspect Kelly won’t let him get away. – Chris Wesseling and Gregg Rosenthal"
Another receiver just returned from injury, Maclin completed a full 16 games in 2014 after missing all of 2013. He’s an important part of the Philadelphia Eagles passing attack and he is a serious threat whenever the QB drops back. He just posted career highs in receptions (85) and yards (1,318). He’s poised to build off of that breakout year.
Maclin was 14th in the league in yards after the catch average with six, 11th in receptions, ninth in yards and touchdowns, and dropped just one pass the whole season (stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus). That’s a level of dependability that the Jags simply can’t find on their roster right now. Maclin would instantly become a safety blanket for Blake Bortles and enable the team to get a better feel for his throwing ability as they have a reliable pass catcher on the other end. Maclin isn’t just a product of Chip Kelly’s system, though his numbers are certainly inflated because of it. Bringing someone with his skill set in may enable the Jags to open up the playbook a bit more.
Next: Why is Torrey Smith Better than Jeremy Maclin?