While the Eagles don’t have any bonified studs at their offensive skill positions, they have a ton of potential.
Miles Sanders and Dallas Goedert have both been in the league for a few years and are on the cusp of stardom. First round pick DeVonta Smith is a star in the making and should be a prominent fixture in the Eagles passing attack this season. Even guys like Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham have shown glimpses of what they can do.
It’s hard to say any of those players are underrated, though. The general consensus on their talent seems on par for the most part.
So, which Eagles weapon is the most underrated then?
He’s not the flashiest player, but he’s arguably been the most consistent pass catching threat over the last year and a half for this team. Greg Ward has made a name for himself as a reliable slot receiver who knows how to get open.
Last season, Ward led the team in receptions (53) and touchdown catches (6), while suiting up for all 16 games — something that’s rare for Eagles skill position players. Not to mention, he had the worst quarterback play in the NFL last season with Carson Wentz for the majority of the year, then Jalen Hurts to close things out.
His 7.9 yards per reception isn’t anything spectacular, but Ward still proved to be a great third down target. He hauled in 24 receptions that moved the chains. He also led all Eagles receivers in total points scored with 38, 14 more points than next closest wideout, Fulgham.
Ward had the highest catch percentage of any receiver on the team, finishing the year with a 67.1 percent mark. Reagor finished with a catch rate of 57.4 percent, while Fulgham finished with 56.7 percent catch rate.
It’s easy to overlook someone like Ward heading into this season — I’m guilty of it, too. With the potential that Smith, Reagor, and Fulgham all bring to the table, Ward kind of becomes an afterthought. Ward’s ceiling isn’t as high as those three wideouts, but his floor is much higher, and he’s already proven to be a consistent pass catcher.
The ways in which Ward can be utilized are limited — he’s exclusively a slot receiver, which does lower is overall value. But this receiving corps needs more than just alluring potential, they need someone who’s a proven commodity. Ward can be that consistent figure for the Eagles’ receiver room in 2021.
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