Once an intriguing second-round selection by the Carolina Panthers, Terrace Marshall Jr. has struggled to find his feet on the professional stage. He's not the only young receiver to experience such a dilemma, but it may not be entirely his doing.
Marshall has hardly played in a competent offense in his young career, spending his first three seasons with a dreadful Panthers squad before finding a very minimal role with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
The Philadelphia Eagles then decided to take a flier on him, signing him to a one-year deal this offseason. Since playing with Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson at LSU, this will be the best offensive system Marshall has found himself in.
Granted, Philadelphia has their own wide receiver duo under the spotlight with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith forming one of the NFL's best tandems. But can Marshall campaign for the No. 3 spot behind those two?
The Athletic's Brooks Kubena entertained that notion in his takeaways from Eagles minicamp this week.
“The Panthers were dreadful while Marshall failed to find his footing during his three-year tenure there, and, after they cut him in training camp last year, he saw nominal playing time after finding work with the Las Vegas Raiders in October,” Kubena wrote.
Fellow free agent signing Jahan Dotson holds the edge though that is no guarantee this early in the summer. Marshall already showed his ability with some impressive catches going against some of the team's top defensive backs.
“Can Marshall revamp his career in Philly? Can Marshall afford the Eagles more than one reliable backup (which the Eagles have needed with both (DeVonta) Smith and (A.J.) Brown managing injuries in each of the last two seasons)?”
The Eagles have an embarrassment of riches when all pieces are available. But Brown and Smith have missed time with injury before.
Injuries or not, there is a path for a career revival on Marshall's part this season. Brown and Smith command so much attention from defenses that Marshall or another player from their crop of reserves has the capacity to contribute on a given game day.
That relies on Marshall earning his stripes through the offseason program, but it appears he may have a little momentum working in his favor.