National Football League

Eagles reportedly will sign Alshon Jeffery for one year, $14 million

Published Mar. 9, 2017 4:50 p.m. ET

Dan Graf

The Philadelphia Eagles went into the offseason with finding help at wide receiver as their No. 1 priority, and they got the job done by landing the top wideout on the free-agent market: Alshon Jeffery.

ESPN is reporting the team has agreed to sign the former Chicago Bear for one year and $14 million.

https://twitter.com/JosinaAnderson/status/839945333425778689

The contract is essentially a prove-it deal for Jeffery, who stands to make a lot more money a year from now if he can do better than the 52 catches for 821 yards he posted in his fifth season with the Bears. He missed four games while on a suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy one year after missing seven games with injuries.

He will immediately become the top target for Philadelphia, which also reportedly will sign free-agent receiver Torrey Smith to a three-year deal. Philadelphia suddenly has built a dangerous receiving unit around franchise quarterback Carson Wentz as he enters his second season.

Jeffery, 27, is a prototypical No. 1 receiver – tall and fast – and should be in his prime at age 27. But his production has declined since he caught 89 passes for 1,421 yards in 2013, his second year with the Bears.