Eagles Bring in WR Markus Wheaton on 1-Year Deal

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - With only five picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Eagles were not able to address each position they would have liked to and that became obvious on Wednesday when the team brought in veteran receiver Markus Wheaton on a one-year deal for the league minimum.

Wheaton, 27, was once an ascending player in Pittsburgh after arriving as a third-round pick out of Oregon State in 2013, hauling in 53 receptions for 644 yards and two touchdowns during his sophomore year with the Steelers and following that with 44-749-5 in 2015.

His walk year, however, was basically wiped out by a shoulder injury and an attempt to revive his career in Chicago last season was again hampered by a shoulder problem. Over those two campaigns, Wheaton has played sparingly, managing only seven receptions.

If healthy the Eagles will be getting a 5-foot-11 wideout with 4.45 speed who has the versatility to play inside and outside.

Currently, the team's depth chart is topped by Alshon Jeffery and Mike Wallace on the outside with Nelson Agholor handling the majority of the slot work.

Others on the offseason roster include second-year draft picks Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson, as well Greg Ward, Bryce Treggs, Rashard Davis, Dom Williams and Marquess Wilson.

Jeffery is expected to miss offseason work after shoulder surgery giving Hollins, a fourth-round pick in 2017, a real opportunity to show what he can do.

The Eagles are also expected to reach a deal with South Jersey native Joe Callahan as an extra arm for the offseason behind Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld, according to NFL Media.

Carson Wentz is still rehabbing from the torn ACL and LCL suffered on Dec. 10 of last year and isn't expected to be medically cleared until deep into August at the earliest.

Callahan, an Absecon native who attended Holy Spirit before attending college at Division III Wesley in Delaware, spent parts of the past two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, who waived him earlier this week.

An NFL source confirms to 973espn.com that the Eagles were interested in bringing in former Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett as an undrafted free agent before he agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints.

UDFA quarterbacks who will be on hand for the team's rookie minicamp next week are Jeremiah Briscoe of Sam Houston State and Brandon Silvers of Troy.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen