The Eagles lost one of their auxiliary wideouts in free agency, seeing Zach Pascal join the Cardinals. They will pick up another. Former Falcon Olamide Zaccheaus agreed to terms with the Eagles on Wednesday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Zaccheaus, 25, spent the past four seasons in Atlanta, playing a regular receiving role despite joining the team as an undrafted free agent. The fifth-year wideout is coming off a season in which he established career-high numbers in both receptions (40) and yards (533). This also represents a homecoming for Zaccheaus, who attended high school in Philadelphia.
As the Falcons changed regimes, they gutted their receiving corps. In 2020, Zaccheaus resided behind Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage. By 2022, all three were out of the picture. Zaccheaus worked as Drake London‘s top complementary receiver last season, finishing as Atlanta’s second-leading pass-catcher. The Virginia alum also topped 400 receiving yards in 2021, stepping up in responsibility after Ridley’s midseason departure.
Barring multiple injuries, no such role will be in the cards for Zaccheaus in Philly. The Eagles return their A.J. Brown–DeVonta Smith–Dallas Goedert trio, and Quez Watkins is going into a contract year. Zaccheaus marks an interesting addition due to limited special teams experience. He has five career returns and has not cleared a 30% special teams usage rate since his rookie season. Of course, Zaccheaus goes 5-foot-8, 193 pounds.
This should establish a fairly clear divide between the Eagles’ top four at receiver and the other players rostered. The team still employs Greg Ward, but he did not play in 2022. Returner Britain Covey and ex-Bronco Tyrie Cleveland are also under contract. The team retained Olympian hurdler Devon Allen via a reserve/futures deal, but it remains to be seen if the former Oregon slot receiver will make a serious push at a roster spot after spending 2022 on Philly’s practice squad.
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