The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing in a record-breaking receiver for a tryout.
As the Eagles started rookie minicamp on Friday, May 3, they invited a well-known veteran wide receiver, former Pro Bowler Jakeem Grant, for a tryout, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC. The 31-year-old is aiming for a comeback after enduring injuries that ended his seasons two years in a row.
“Jakeem Grant, a two-time All-Pro kick returner and wide receiver with six touchdown returns, 3,927 return yards, 110 catches, and 1,140 yards with 7 scores, will attend #Eagles rookie minicamp, as stated by Wilson. He has previously played for the #Dolphins, #Bears, #Browns, and @KPRC2.”
Jakeem Grant Previously Ranked as One of NFL’s Top Returners
The 5-foot-6 Grant has made a noteworthy impact as a returner, making it to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and earning Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2020 and 2021. Throughout his six-year career, primarily with the Miami Dolphins — , Grant has scored four punt returns and two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Grant holds the all-time record for receiving yards (3,286) at Texas Tech, and he also has the franchise record for the Chicago Bears for the longest punt return for a touchdown (97 yards).
Why Eagles May Be Looking to Sign Jakeem Grant The NFL’s new kickoff rule has made returners more valuable. In recent years, the league has implemented rules that limited the number of kickoff returns in games. With a rule change set for the 2024 season, kickoff returners will have more value than before, which could be a reason why the Eagles are considering Grant. Sam Joseph of CNN explains the new kickoff rule that will be in place for the 2024 season. “Under the new format, the ball will still be kicked from the kicking team’s 35-yard line, but every player on the kicking team, except the kicker, will now line up with at least one foot on the returning team’s 40-yard line. At least nine members of the returning team will line up in a ‘setup zone’ starting five yards opposite their own 35-yard line, with up to two returners in the “landing zone” between the goal line and the 20-yard line”
However, Grant is clearly the most skilled of all of them. If Grant can demonstrate that he still has most of the speed that he once showed at Texas Tech’s Pro Day in 2016 —
he previously completed a 4.42-second
and 4.38 40-yard dash — then the Eagles might consider giving him a chance on the 90-man roster as they enter training camp. The Philadelphia Eagles are giving a former Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection Jakeem Grant an opportunity for a tryout.
“The new format will still see the ball kicked from the kicking team’s 35-yard line, but every player on the kicking team other than the kicker themself will now line up with at least one foot on the returning team’s 40-yard line,” explains Joseph. “At least nine members of the returning team will line up in a ‘setup zone’ beginning five yards opposite on its own 35-yard line (a minimum of seven players must have a foot on what is known as the “restraining line”) stretching to its own 30-yard line, with up to two returners in the “landing zone” (defined as the zone between the goal line and the 20-yard line).”
It’s worth noting that the Eagles have a number of current players capable of serving as a returner, with Britain Covey returning after leading the league in punt return yards during the 2023 season. Furthermore, Philadelphia drafted Cooper DeJean, who won the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year in 2023 after ranking second in the conference in punt return yards and average.
Furthermore, the Eagles also added wide receiver Ainais Smith out of Texas A&M in the 2024 NFL draft. Smith served as the primary punt returner during his entire career with the Aggies. He also played the role of kick returner in two of his five seasons in college.
However, Grant is obviously the most accomplished of them all. If Grant can show he has most of the speed that he once displayed at Texas Tech’s Pro Day back in 2016 — he previously ran a 4.42 and 4.38 40-yard dash — then the Eagles may give him a shot on the 90-man roster entering training camp.
