With receiver Marquise Goodwin opting out, could Eagles chase Antonio Brown or Josh Gordon?
Eagles receiver Marquise Goodwin has opted out of the 2020 NFL season.
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The NFL deadline for players to opt-out of this season during a coronavirus pandemic is not until Aug. 3, but some are not waiting that long as there have been a handful to take the opt-out clause Tuesday. The Philadelphia Eagles were the latest team hit, losing deep-threat receiver and trade acquisition Marquise Goodwin. Could this lead to the receiver-needy Eagles perhaps looking at either Antonio Brown or Josh Gordon? SportsLine NFL oddsmakers favor no.
Goodwin is not a "high-risk" player and will receive only a $150,000 stipend, but he has strong family reasons for opting out as he has five-month-old daughter after his wife previously had three miscarriages. Family is incredibly important to Goodwin.
During April's draft, the Eagles and San Francisco 49ers flipped sixth-round picks, with the Eagles sending 190 overall and getting back 210 to get Goodwin. He's as fast as anyone in the NFL and ran a 4.27 time in the 40-yard dash before the 2013 NFL Draft. Goodwin was the No. 78 overall pick from Texas and his best season was in 2017 with the Niners when he caught 56 passes for 962 and two scores. He has had trouble staying healthy the past two years, playing in 20 of 32 potential regular-season games.
Receiver depth already was an issue for Philly with Alshon Jeffery a major injury question (likely to start the season on the physically unable to perform list) and DeSean Jackson coming off a 2019 campaign that saw him play just two games due to injury. Philly did take TCU wideout Jalen Reagor in the first round of April's draft. He's +2200 to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year on the William Hill moneyline odds.
Other receivers on the Philly roster are 2019 second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward, John Hightower, Quez Watkins, Rob Davis and Deontay Burnett. That group leaves a bit to be desired. Last season, none of the top three leading pass-catchers on the team were receivers.
Both Brown and Gordon could learn their NFL futures in one regard this week. Brown is likely to be suspended around eight games by commissioner Roger Goodell for all of Brown's off-field troubles. Gordon has applied for reinstatement from yet another suspension and likely to get it. The Seattle Seahawks have been linked to both guys so the Eagles may need to hurry to sign one if they so choose. Philly also has been linked to free-agent running back Devonta Freeman.
Via SportsLine NFL oddsmakers: With Marquise Goodwin opting-out, will the Eagles sign either Antonio Brown or Josh Gordon?
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