The Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up for the 2021 NFL season with training camp quickly approaching. Philly has a chance to make the postseason this year thanks to a weak NFC East division. Even so, they'll need the entire roster to play well to beat out their division rivals.
There is some excitement buzzing around the Eagles' franchise right now as Jalen Hurts aims to be the starting quarterback this year. He's an athletic playmaker that provides the Eagles with a ton of athleticism. The run game should be vastly improved, with Miles Sanders and Jalen Hurts leading the way. Additionally, the wide receiver group is still underwhelming, but the addition of DeVonta Smith possibly gives Philadelphia an elite pass option.
The defense might be where this team struggles this year. They have some nice talent on that side of the ball, but it might not be enough to prevent opponents from scoring. For that reason, the Eagles' offense will have to be much better if this team hopes to make the playoffs in 2021.
Luckily for Philadelphia, they have some young talent that could make a huge impact on the team this year. They have a ton of guys on the roster who are dangerous with the ball in their hands, so expect to see the Eagles use a lot of screens and short routes to get their prime players the ball. Even though Miles Sanders and DeVonta Smith are the best weapons, two other players have a chance to thrive on this offense. With that said, here are two underrated sleepers on the Eagles roster.
Eagles sleepers:
Kenneth Gainwell
After opting out of the 2020 season, Kenneth Gainwell fell to the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has the tools to become a major contributor, especially in the passing game. In 2019, his final year playing for the Memphis Tigers, Gainwell racked up 2,069 yards from scrimmage and 16 total touchdowns.
Boston Scott currently holds the third-down back role in Philadelphia, but he could lose that spot to Gainwell during training camp. The Eagles' new rookie is shifty and makes defenders miss. He also has the size to run the ball up the middle if he needs to, making him more of a threat in the run game than Scott. Keep an eye on Gainwell throughout training camp, as he could impress the coaching staff enough to earn a vital role in the offense.
Jalen Reagor
The 2020 first-round pick, Jalen Reagor had an unimpressive rookie campaign. He finished with just 31 receptions, 396 yards, and one touchdown. His 57.4% catching percentage is low, but some of that could be attributed to the Eagles' weak quarterback play in 2020. He heads into the new season looking to have a much improved year. If he can do that, then the Eagles could have a solid passing attack.
Expectations should be high for Reagor, but it seems many have written him off as a bust already. Not everyone begins their career off to a hot start. Reagor was one of the best receivers in his draft class and still has the potential to become a star. With Jalen Hurts under center now, Reagor could provide much better production for the Eagles in 2021.
Reagor was picked by the Eagles instead of Justin Jefferson, who has had a bright start to his career with the Minnesota Vikings. If Reagor can become a much better version of himself, Philadelphia won't have to regret that draft pick anymore.
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