Eagles trade failed 1st-round pick to Vikings, joining the star receiver they passed on
It's only fitting that Jalen Reagor will join Justin Jefferson on the Minnesota Vikings.
The Eagles traded Reagor, their first-round pick, taken 21st overall in the first round in 2020, to the Vikings on Wednesday. He'll team with Jefferson, who was taken one pick after Reagor.
The two wide receivers have since had divergent NFL careers. Jefferson became an instant star as he set the NFL record for receiving yards by a rookie (1,400 in 2020) and for the first two seasons of a career (3,016).
Reagor, meanwhile, struggled in his two-year Eagles career. Reagor has had only 695 yards receiving total.
The Eagles are getting Minnesota's seventh-round pick in 2023 and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024.
Amid trade rumors leading up to the NFL's cutdown day on Tuesday, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said Reagor was still on the team because he had a strong preseason. But it was clear that Reagor had fallen down the depth chart behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins, who was taken in the sixth round in 2020.
"I think when you look at Jalen, one of the things that one of our scouts said to me is he was one of the only guys that practiced every day," Roseman said. "The guy brought it every day. He worked on his craft. He had a great attitude, great energy. Obviously, he's a talented guy. He's 23 years old.
"We're going to do whatever we think is in the best interest of the team, and we felt like there was no doubt in our mind that he deserved a role on this team."
Now he's on the Vikings. The Eagles will see Reagor in Week 2, when the Vikings play the Eagles on Monday night, Sept. 19, at Lincoln Financial Field.
Eagles add QB, waive 3rd-round pick
The Eagles claimed former Saints quarterback Ian Book off waivers Tuesday, making him the third quarterback. To make room for him on the 53-man roster, the Eagles waived linebacker Davion Taylor, their third-round pick in 2020.
Book was the Saints' fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Notre Dame. He started one game last season after the Saints' QB room was decimated by injuries.
It did not go well in a loss to the Dolphins. Book completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards. He threw 2 interceptions and was sacked 8 times.
Taylor was also a disappointment in his two seasons with the Eagles. He was considered a project because he had only played 1 game in high school for religious reasons before going on to Coahama Community College in Mississippi, then Colorado.
The Eagles were enamored with Taylor's speed, but injuries and mistakes hindered Taylor. He had become a starter midway through last season before a knee injury ended his season in November. Since then, the Eagles signed Kyzir White as a free agent and drafted Nakobe Dean in the third round.
Taylor, meanwhile, struggled in the final two preseason games.
In other moves Tuesday:
Eagles center Jason Kelce returned to practice for the first time since having elbow surgery on Aug. 9. That's a good sign that Kelce will be ready for the Eagles' opener against Detroit on Sept. 11.
The Eagles announced 15 of their 17 practice squad players. They are: WR Devon Allen, G/T Kayode Awosika, RB Kennedy Brooks, WR Deon Cain, S Andre Chachere, T Le'Raven Clark, WR Britain Covey, LB Christian Elliss, CB Mario Goodrich, S Anthony Harris, DE Matt Leo (international player), QB Reid Sinnett, TE Noah Togiai, C Cameron Tom, DT Marvin Wilson
Two Eagles players were claimed off waivers by other teams − CB Josh Blackwell by the Bears, and G/C Jack Anderson by the Giants.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles trade Jalen Reagor to Vikings to join star WR Justin Jefferson
