With or without Jeremy Maclin, Eagles' WR corps is restocked for the better

When the Kansas City Chiefs jettisoned Jeremy Maclin in this offseason's clearest example of a Friday afternoon news dump, it was no surprise that the wide receiver's former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, surfaced as one of many speculated landing spots for the surprise free agent.

The Eagles never intended to lose Maclin when the Pro Bowl pass catcher hit the market in 2015. It was no secret this offseason that Philadelphia wanted to bolster the WR spot. And while the Eagles haven't appeared close to reuniting with their ex-first-round pick, a move that would almost assuredly require another salary-cap manipulation from Eagles personnel chief Howie Roseman, the connection between the two sides is obvious.

Maclin, after all, is an even better, more well-rounded nostalgic possibility for the Eagles than, say, DeSean Jackson was earlier in the offseason.

With or without a reunion tour for J-Mac in midnight green, though, the Eagles boast a plethora of upgrades at the wideout spot. Some of those upgrades, in fact, are perhaps the most prominent reasons Maclin could end up somewhere other than the team that drafted him. And if even a fraction of them pan out, Philadelphia figures to find itself right in the thick of the playoff race, or at least touting an aerial attack that should be.

From top to bottom, in stark contrast to a 2015-16 stretch that made even below-average contributions from starting receivers seem encouraging, the Eagles' revamped WR depth chart is one of the offseason's top makeover stories:

The Starters

1. Alshon Jeffery

The most prolific veteran wideout to land in Philadelphia in more than a decade, he's got the size and the resume to be the No. 1 target the Eagles have lacked since both Maclin and DeSean Jackson departed. His injury history isn't nearly as threatening as it seems, at least in comparison to his four-game suspension in 2016, and his reserved persona has made for an all-smiles offseason pairing with Carson Wentz.

If Jeffery goes off for more than 1,000 yards, puts himself back into the Pro Bowl discussion and elevates Wentz in his Eagles debut, what'll be more astounding than the ex-Chicago Bear's numbers will simply be the sight of a big-bodied, ball-attacking starter at Lincoln Financial Field.

2. Torrey Smith

He may be a one-trick pony, but he can be a good-trick pony for a pass catching corps that sorely lacked a deep threat in Year 1 of the Wentz era. A sour stint with the San Francisco 49ers did a lot to throw Smith's early-career speed into question, but the Eagles reportedly had their eyes on the former Super Bowl champion long before they inked him to an incentive-laden deal in March.

If Smith takes the top off the defense with even a hint of regularity in 2017, he makes for an improved No. 2 in Philadelphia. That's not a high bar to top, frankly, but playing opposite a complementary big man in Jeffery should give the ex-Baltimore Raven a good shot at unlocking Wentz's deep ball.

3. Jordan Matthews

In a WR spot littered with new faces looking to prove their worth as big-name or low-risk, high-reward gambles, it's interesting that Matthews may be the most polarizing of the bunch. Shouldering most of the work of a lackluster supporting cast since 2014, he has not lacked for stats -- his 225 catches and 2,673 yards in three years are a record pace. But there's debate about his true value and his long-term Eagles future because of a recurring bout with drops and a so-so skill set out of the slot.

Here's this writer's lowdown: Matthews is a gem of a character and about as solid of a No. 2-3 target as you can get. His high-volume numbers could swing up or down depending on Smith's role, but he's someone you want on your team and in your locker room, especially when he isn't tasked with being "the guy" and compensating for underwhelming teammates.

The Reserves

4. Nelson Agholor

Of the receivers who aren't guaranteed to make the Eagles' 53-man roster, he's the one with the most unpredictable role. A first-round pedigree means little for his chances of securing a third season in Philly, although his contract certainly helps his cause and all indications are that he's been performing at a high level in OTAs. Looking good in shorts during the spring, of course, doesn't necessarily signal a reverse of course for Agholor, whose 365-yard sophomore campaign was marred by untimely drops and mental lapses.

The safe bet is that "Nelly" opens the year as the team's fifth option behind Jeffery, Smith, Matthews and tight end Zach Ertz. His ceiling: Talent finally supersedes his fleeting fundamentals and he becomes a play-maker in relief of -- or, ultimately, in place of -- Matthews or Smith out of the slot and out wide. His floor: Practice reps don't translate to in-game confidence, and he winds up on the street, a victim to a restocked depth chart.

5. Mack Hollins

Generously classified on draft weekend by NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah as a "poor man's Mike Evans," the fourth-round rookie has a team-first mentality reminiscent of Matthews, except his size and speed make him a potential big-bodied deep threat with immediate special teams value.

The veteran presence in the WR corps might limit his early exposure to kickoff coverage and the like, but he's the guy to look out for in a year or two.

6. Shelton Gibson

The former West Virginia speedster is far from a lock to make the team, but his deep-ball speed figures to at least warrant practice-squad consideration if he doesn't outlast final cuts. He'll have to correct his own drop issues if he wants to contribute over the long haul, and he's a tier below Hollins in terms of Opening Day value, but his youth and potential are more appealing than ...

The Hopefuls

7. Dorial Green-Beckham

It's a little painful to paint him as a "hopeful." Maybe it's because his frame (6-5, 237) will forever elicit thoughts of an imposing red-zone target. Maybe it's because he was very nearly a first-round pick just two years ago. And because the Eagles reeled him in from the Tennessee Titans for the mere cost of a backup offensive lineman. But Green-Beckham is the biggest name in the biggest danger after the team's 2017 WR restocking, a prime physical specimen without the "it" factor to guarantee even a reserve job.

If he proves wrong those who have questioned his effort and grows in the shadow of someone like Jeffery, he'd be one heck of a No. 5 guy and a perfect project for down the road. But until then, his name probably holds more clout than it should.

8. Bryce Treggs

Heralded as a long-awaited deep threat when he was finally activated as a 5-10, 185-pound undrafted rookie in 2016, Treggs ultimately offered little more than, well, any other 5-10, 185-pound undrafted rookie receiver would be expected to offer. Barring a freakish summer, he's well on his way to being replaced by a speedier or more well-rounded alternative in Gibson or Hollins.