With another NFL Scouting Combine in the books, only free agency and college pro days stand between now and draft day in Las Vegas. The next wave of activity that typically follows the NFL Combine includes the incessant prospect repositioning on draft boards, and NFL clubs identifying players of interest.
One team in particular, the Philadelphia Eagles, may have already distinguished their draft day target. According to Pro Football Network’s own Ben Allbright, the Philadelphia Eagles have already “started exploring opportunities to trade up and get ahead on the Denver Broncos” — another team in desperate need of a field-stretcher — in order to ensure they land their desired target, which would presumably be Alabama’s Henry Ruggs.
Denver’s case for Henry Ruggs
The Denver Broncos struggled to find any semblance of offensive consistency in 2019. In fact, the oft-maligned unit was downright putrid at times under first-year head coach Vic Fangio, finishing the season ranked 20th in rushing, 28th in scoring, 28th in red zone efficiency, 28th in passing, and 32nd in passing touchdowns.
Despite a second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign from Phillip Lindsay, a 1,110-yard effort from the rapidly emerging Courtland Sutton, and some late-season promise from rookie quarterback Drew Lock, the absence of an explosive playmaker on offense was woefully evident for the Broncos.
When assessing the Denver pass catchers, it is easy to be intrigued with the prospects of Sutton and second-year tight end Noah Fant; both possess All-Pro potential and figure to be Denver’s centerpieces for years to come. Penn State alum DaeSean Hamilton is a nuanced route runner and has terrific body control, but doesn’t provide much as an outside threat and is primarily a slot receiver.
While the Broncos currently roster a plethora of pass catchers that can adequately move the chains and come down with contested catches, the speed element must be addressed in order for the offense to reach new heights in 2020.
Former Alabama wide receiver and NFL Scouting Combine wonder Henry Ruggs has been a popular name linked to the Denver Broncos at pick #15, and the pairing would make sense for a multitude of reasons.
For one, the team would be wise to build around their second-round signal-caller in Lock, who started to come into his own down the stretch last season. Surrounding Lock with a young, diverse stable of receivers — with a full offseason of working together — would work wonders for his development. The Mizzou alum also has notable deep ball accuracy, to go along with an immensely strong arm, so it is feasible that Denver could see an early return on their investment in Ruggs — if the stars align.
Philadelphia’s case for Henry Ruggs
Two years removed from their magical 2017 campaign, one in which their prolific offense was firing on all cylinders on their way to Super Bowl LII, the Philadelphia Eagles have since been searching for an offensive identity. In 2019, the Eagles finished 14th in total offense and 12th in points per game (24.1).
Last season, the Eagles frequently got out to sluggish starts; the once-innovative offense spearheaded by head coach Doug Pederson resembled a stagnant, lethargic unit that all too often had to labor its way down the field each week. Without a formidable deep threat to stretch the field vertically for much of the season, these time-consuming offensive sequences often resulted in stalled drives due to penalties, turnovers, and ill-timed dropped passes.
DeSean Jackson’s highly-anticipated return to Philadelphia began with fireworks, before a core muscle injury sustained in Week 2 ultimately required season-ending surgery. While Jackson will undoubtedly provide Philadelphia with the electrifying long speed that they so desperately need in 2020, the team would be prudent to have a backup plan in place, in the event the 33-year-old speedster should spend any more time on the shelf.
Jackson aside, slot receiver Nelson Agholor is a free agent and will likely be relocating this offseason, Alshon Jeffery appears on his way out, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside has a long way to go before he can be relied upon as a key component. Beyond that, the team has a surplus of former practice squad talents that will battle for depth roles.
In recent years, the presence of a downfield speed element has changed the whole landscape of the Eagles’ offense. Take 2017, for example: With veteran Torrey Smith on the outside, teams had to account for him vertically, which effectively opened things up for the entire offense. The most recent example would be the season opener last season against the Washington Redskins, where quarterback Carson Wentz connected with Jackson eight times for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Though the team has attempted to address the speed deficiency via the draft with Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson, and the free agent market with Mike Wallace, the Eagles haven’t had much success in securing a perimeter threat.
Prolific speedster Henry Ruggs, among the crown jewels of the 2020 draft class, is a blue-chip prospect that would instantly inject explosiveness and big-play ability into a largely lifeless Eagles offense. Perhaps the premier wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft, Ruggs is a polished game-breaker who is tremendously smooth transitioning in and out of breaks, can create separation at the top of his routes with regularity, and poses as a threat to score every time the ball is in his hands.
The former Alabama product would more than likely work in tandem with Jackson, Arcega-Whiteside, and a potential free agent addition, to revive the Eagles offense.
The Eagles just may have to leap Denver in order to make it possible.