A former first-round draft pick of the Eagles, wide receiver WR Jalen Reagor, has been traded to the Vikings in exchange for cash
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that the Philadelphia Eagles have traded former first-round receiver Jalen Reagor to the Minnesota Vikings for a conditional fourth-round selection in 2024 and a seventh-round pick in 2023, per sources.
It was later confirmed by the Vikings that the trade had been made, along with the waiving of receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
WR Jalen Reagor, A Former First-round Draft Pick Of The Eagles, Has Been Traded To The Vikings
As a result of the deal, Reagor’s beleaguered career in Philadelphia has come to an end, and he has been given a fresh start with a team taking its first steps into a new era.
It is safe to say that Reagor’s time in the City of Brotherly Love was anything but joyful.
It was hoped that he would become the undisputed top receiver for the Eagles for many years to come after being selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, but he never came close to fulfilling those dreams.
In place of that, Reagor, who was drafted No. 21 overall in 2020, struggled as a rookie. In 11 games, he caught 31 of 54 targets and missed five games due to a torn ligament in his thumb.
Reagor had the entire year of 2021 at his disposal to rehabilitate his image and get back on track.
In the end, Philadelphia selected Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, who became the No. 1 receiver Philadelphia was hoping Reagor would become.
In 2021, Reagor had more issues in his punting department, misplacing two punts and losing one of them in a wild-card loss against the Buccaneers in the postseason.
The addition of A.J. Brown and the potential upside of Quez Watkins meant that the Eagles would be fine without Reagor, who seemed to be a likely candidate to be cut at the deadline.
Instead, he was placed on the 53-man roster and lasted for less than 24 hours before being released.
Reagor was acquired by the Vikings for a compensation package that was larger than what most people would have expected in such a situation.
As a matter of fact, the fact that the Eagles got anything for Reagor is a win for general manager Howie Roseman in the long run.
It is important to note that despite the negative tone above, Minnesota sees an opportunity in Reagor.
The Vikings have a quarterback who is able to connect with a variety of targets, and they have a dynamic duo in Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen who are good at catching the ball as well.
It is expected that K.J. Osborn will loom as a promising player in the NFL in 2022, while Michigan State product Jalen Nailor will spend the season getting his feet wet in the league.
As a result of all of this, Reagor has virtually no pressure on him in Minnesota. Instead of carrying the crushing weight of first-round expectations with him, Reagor can acclimate to the new environment at his own pace while hoping to capitalize on opportunities when they arise.
As a whole, the Eagles have to admit that they swung and missed Reagor in the end. In spite of that, neither team is suffering too much as a result of it.