Wait….. When Did Nelson Agholor Become The NFL’s Best Wide Receiver?
Yesterday NFL on CBS reported that there’s only one wide receiver in the league who has brought in a perfect passer rating this season, and it’s not one of the usual suspects.
Nelson Agholor, most famously known for making Carson Wentz look like an idiot in Philadelphia, is on top of the football world as the NFL’s lone “perfect” wide-out. If this man isn’t already on your fantasy roster, then he better be by the time you’re finished reading this. With that said, Nelson wasn’t always this godly figure that you see before you today. He comes from humble beginnings in the NFL–starting with the day he entered the league.
After being drafted 20th overall (which is still absolutely mind-blowing to me) out of the University of Southern California by former Eagles head coach, Chip Jelly, Nelson quickly developed a bad reputation as a pass dropper. In 2015 he converted on only 23 of 44 targets, and then 36 of 69 (nice) the following year–resulting in a subpar 52% completion percentage. Eagles fans were already sick of him, and the bust label had been stamped on his forehead after just two seasons.

2017 brought a fresh start for Nelson when he changed numbers from 17 to lucky 13, after the Eagles signed Alshon Jeffrey to an incredibly modest and reasonable four-year contract that hasn’t come back to bite the Eagles whatsoever. Apparently Nelson knew ahead of time not to get on Alshon’s bad side (Carson could’ve used that memo), so he took the proactive measure of giving him the number he had worn in Chicago. Nelson went on to have the best year of his career, catching 65% of the balls thrown his way and a career-best 8 touchdowns. He capped it off by playing a pivotal role in the Birds’ improbable Super Bowl run with clutch catches down the stretch, en route to Philadelphia’s first title. It appeared all was forgiven, and the curse of the brick hands had been broken–Nellie was on top of the world.

As we know, all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately his glory in Philly was short-lived. Agholor regressed over the next two seasons, once again dropping passes left and right, and being a regular addition to the injury report. Nelson left a bad taste in the mouths of Birds fans everywhere when he dropped what would’ve been a game-winning touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons last season.
That was one of the last memories we Philadelphians have of Nellie, as he faded off into the abyss, only to resurface in Las Vegas for the Raiders (to be honest with you, I had no idea he was even on an NFL roster until today) where he is once again king of the world as Mr. Perfect.
As Nelson reigns supreme, it leads me to this thought–is Nelson Agholor now a candidate for the Hall of Fame? Never too soon to ask. A guy who came from the bottom and fought his way to becoming a key player on a legendary championship team, an internet sensation, and now being labeled as the NFL’s only perfect receiver–a story of triumph and redemption. Sounds like a first-ballot HOFamer if you ask me.
