A two-time Olympic finalist in the 110-meter hurdles, Devon Allen will give football another try. The Eagles signed the U.S. track and field standout Friday, providing Allen an opportunity to resume a career that has been on hold for a while.
Allen last played football in 2016, when he suited up at Oregon, but was far better on the track and elected to turn pro in that sport. The former Marcus Mariota target has been a mainstay in the 110 hurdles for the past six years, but he totaled 684 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns as a freshman with the Ducks — on a 2014 team that played for a national championship. Allen, 27, ventured back to his alma mater last week to participate in the Ducks’ pro day and clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash.
“It’s now or never because I don’t want to get too old,” Allen said last week. “I don’t want to turn 30, 31, and then try and get into the NFL. I know the skill gap is still there from college to the NFL, but I think when I did play college and when I did play at a pretty good level, I would consider myself talented enough to play in the NFL.”
Although Allen has three U.S. national hurdle titles on his resume, he narrowly missed the Olympic podium in 2016 (fifth) and 2021 (fourth) and has seen Grant Holloway usurp him as Team USA’s top high hurdler. Allen entered the professional track ranks after an ACL tear ended his Oregon football run in 2016.
This signing is closer to a flier than a legitimate attempt for the Eagles to upgrade at receiver, but the team has been patient this offseason. Philadelphia has added Zach Pascal but pursued bigger names — from Allen Robinson to Christian Kirk to DeVante Parker — in free agency. The team has two first-round picks in the upcoming draft but has used first-rounders on wideouts in each of the past two years.
Get Julio Jones!!!
I’m not expecting him to put up 1000 yards or anything crazy. But 750 would be nice and serve as a great locker room leader for this young offence. Hurts and Smith the future leaders of this team would really look up to him and learn so much.
Not to mention having in my ideal offence, I’d have Julio out wide who will draw attention. On the other side have a real speedster (Reagor/Pascal/Watkins) and play Smith in the slot.
Hurts isn’t a pocket QB and doesn’t have a cannon of an arm, he’s going to run the ball a lot and look to fling it short to which he has Smith, Goedert and Sanders. Having Julio and a speedster outside keeps the secondary honest cause if you drop off you’ll give up a 20/30/40 yard play.
He’s at the stage in his career where he’s not likely be near the top in yards anymore. He’s still a great receiver but not truely elite but what he really can offer is his experience and leadership. He’s likely to not demand top dollar I think you could snag him at 1 year 12mil which a player option to add another 1 year 12mil.
Pascal isn’t a speedy outside receiver. He’s a big, slower possession-style slot receiver.
This Devon Allen kid is pretty close to a speedster I’d say.
Did I see that they gave him a 3 year deal?
I think they functionally gave him a UDFA deal.
Won’t matter when he’s headed to the practice squad.
Could be Bullet Bob Hayes or Skeets Nehemiah, but could be a bust, worth the high reward/low risk signing of a camp body
Jeremy bloom
thought the same thing