Eagles sign Nick Sirianni favorite Zach Pascal – NBC Sports Philadelphia
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Eagles on Monday signed free agent wide receiver Zach Pascal.
Pascal, 27, is a long-time favorite of Nick Sirianni, who spent the 2018 through 2020 seasons with Pascal in Indianapolis and often spoke in glowing terms about Pascal while sharing his long-ish stories of his Colts days with the Philly media.
“I know I’ve said this before and I tell Zach this and the guys make fun of me when I say this, but I want my sons to play football like Zach Pascal,” Sirianni told the Indianapolis Star after the 2020 season. “I hope he knows that is the biggest honor I could give him right there is to say that because I want them to be all the things Zach Pascal is.”
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Terms of the one-year deal weren’t immediately available.
Pascal had 150 catches for 1,888 yards and 15 touchdowns with a 12.6 average in four years with the Colts, who originally signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion, where he played alongside Travis Fulgham in 2015 and 2016. He’s also considered one of the better blocking receivers in the league.
It’s not the blockbuster free agent signing Eagles fans have been clamoring for, but assuming the Eagles draft at least one receiver Pascal projects as WR4 behind DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and a rookie.
Pascal started out his Colts career as a special teamer before working his way into the offense late in his rookie year.
In his best years, Pascal had 41 catches for 607 yards and five TDs in 2020 playing with Jacoby Brissett and 44-for-629 and five TDs in 2020 playing with Philip Rivers. He was one of only 10 receivers to catch at least 40 passes and average over 14 yards per catch in both 2019 and 2020.
Last year, with Carson Wentz as his QB and Sirianni no longer on the Colts’ coaching staff, he dropped to 38 catches for 384 yards and three TDs.
One thing this signing does is bump Jalen Reagor down to WR4 at best behind Smith, Watkins and Pascal.
In addition to Smith, Watkins, Pascal and Reagor, the Eagles also have J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward, John Hightower and Deon Cain on the roster.
And at 27 and going into his fifth year, Pascal becomes the Eagles’ oldest and most experienced Eagles wide receiver, a designation previously held by the 26-year-old Ward.
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