Eric Decker is the top wide receiver on the free-agent market, a position where the Eagles are likely to be addressing over the next few months. (Image courtesy of AP)
It's no secret that wide receiver is a priority for the Philadelphia Eagles heading into free agency.
General manager Howie Roseman, head coach Chip Kelly and company need to decide whether or not Jeremy Maclin or Riley Cooper are worth retaining as both are set to become free agents when the market opens on March 11th.
Building around quarterback Nick Foles and bolstering Kelly's high octane offense is likely an integral part of the front office's offseason playbook. The biggest name on the open market at the position is Eric Decker of the Denver Broncos and the Eagles have the cap space to make a run at the 26-year old if he is in fact on their radar screen.
A fairly convincing case can be made that adding Decker and allowing both Maclin and Cooper to walk in free agency would be the ideal scenario for this team that finished second in total offense behind the AFC Champion Broncos last season.
Decker ranked in the top 15 in every major receiving category in 2013.
He finished his second-season playing alongside Peyton Manning with 87 receptions on 137 targets for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns. Perhaps more impressive is the fact that the University of Minnesota product posted five games with ten or more catches and 100-yards or more.
Beyond the numbers, he is a much more complete receiver than Cooper and more of a physical presence than Maclin.
At 6'3", 214 pounds, Decker has the build to not only dominate the slot, but finally be the big red-zone target this team has been missing in recent years.
Where Maclin might have more speed and be a game-breaking receiver, Decker is a purer route-runner than Cooper who can create space on the opposite side of the field for Desean Jackson.
In a draft class that boasts the likes of Allen Robinson, Kelvin Benjamin and Mike Evans in the first round, the Eagles could easily pick up one of the receivers in the first round to compliment Decker and Jackson while creating one of the more threatening receiving corps in the NFL.
Kelly's philosophy is clearly to score quickly and score often and while the Seattle Seahawks proved this season that defenses win championships, it Eagles seem intent on running teams out of the stadium and an addition of Decker would be a game-changing weapon for the second-year head coach.
There are questions with all three of the marquee options the Eagles are choosing between. How much of Decker's production in 2013 was inflated by Manning throwing him passes? Can Cooper build on his stellar campaign or has he reached his ceiling? Will Maclin ever be the same dynamic receiver again after a second-ACL surgery?
On the surface, Decker's questions can be eased by the fact that Foles finished with the highest passer rating and most passes 20 yards or longer downfield in 2013 and entering his third NFL season when many quarterbacks really hit their stride.
Decker cetainly will cost the Eagles or any team that chooses to sign him this offseason. He's expected to garner the top free agent receiving contract signed this offseason, but it would be money better spent than retaining both Maclin and Cooper.
With an expected $23,700,737.00 in cap space the Eagles have the flexibility to add just about whomever they target. How they spend it at the receiver position may be the most watched aspect of their offseason.
