The Eagles made a trade on Tuesday morning in an attempt to bolster their lackluster receiving corps, acquiring former second-round pick Dorial Green-Beckham.
Dennis Kelly was shipped to the Titans in return for the receiver.
Green-Beckham, 23, was taken in the second round by the Titans last year. He had 32 catches for 549 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. The 6-5, 237-pound Green-Beckham had 87 catches for 1,278 yards and 17 touchdowns in two years at Missouri before he was cut from the team.
If it wasn't obvious before, the Eagles' desperate need for a receiver other than Jordan Matthews became even more evident on Thursday night in the first preseason game. Deep reserve Paul Turner had a good game, but Rueben Randle, Josh Huff, Nelson Agholor and Chris Givens caught a combined three passes.
Green-Beckham was taken 20 spots after the Eagles selected Agholor, but had a much better rookie season.
But Green-Beckham doesn't come to the Eagles without his share of character concerns. He was dismissed from Missouri after multiple incidents. The last included a burglary and assault investigation in which a woman claimed Green-Beckham pushed her down stairs. He wasn't charged in the incident. He transferred to Oklahoma, but didn't play a down there.
Just recently, Green-Beckham's work ethic has come into question. "He's just got to find a way to come out every day and make the plays that are called his way," Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "That's got to be every day, and it just hasn't been that way."
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
This offseason, the Eagles have shown their willingness to overlook character concerns in cases where they think they're getting value. There appears to be definite value in getting a second-round receiver for a reserve offensive lineman.
Kelly, by the way, as hard as it is to believe, had been one of the longest-tenured Eagles. He arrived to Philly as a fifth-round pick in 2012 and was on his third head coach. He played in 30 games (15 starts) in his four-year career in Philly. Up until this week, he was working as the second-team right tackle, but was then forced inside to guard when Lane Johnson was dropped to second team because of the impending suspension.
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson and de facto GM Howie Roseman will speak to the media after this morning's practice.
