For all the moves the Philadelphia Eagles are making in free agency, replacing Jeremy Maclin has yet to be one of them. The team replaced LeSean McCoy with DeMarco Murray. They added Sam Bradford and re-sign Mark Sanchez along with bringing in defensive help. However, Maclin's hole still remains on the roster. After signing veteran Miles Austin, could the Eagles be targeting a rookie to fill the shoes of Maclin?
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Eagles are bringing in several speedy receivers for workouts. UCF receiver Breshad Perriman jumped onto the map after running a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr immediately pushed the receiver into the top 10 on his big board and as a result Perriman has plenty of workouts lined up including the Eagles.
NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah ranks Perriman as the No. 5 wide receiver entering the draft considering his 6-foot-2, 212 frame and high speed. Jeremiah is reporting that many teams are beginning to think Perriman could be a No. 1 wide receiver, something the Eagles need. Right now the team has Riley Cooper, Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff as their leading receivers and the newly signed Austin to work in rotation. They need a top guy, but it remains to be seen if Perriman is really that player.
The Eagles are not predicted to take a receiver in the first round of the draft. Considering all of the speculation regarding Chip Kelly's interest in Marcus Mariota, no one really knows what direction Philadelphia is leaning towards in the draft. Kelly could actually be targeting a trade up for Amari Cooper after losing Maclin. If the Eagles wager more draft picks for another quarterback, they likely will not be able to grab a receiver until a later round. That might leave them with players like Sammie Coates, Devin Smith or Philip Dorsett.
The Eagles could still target a free agent to help fill the need. They signed Austin, but he is not a reliable option given his injury history. Michael Crabtree, Greg Jennings and Reggie Wayne are still available. Given how young the Eagles rotation is, signing a veteran would not be a bad move for Philadelphia.