After recording one of the best rookie seasons for a receiver since Randy Moss, Odell Beckham Jr. is the fastest rising star in the NFL.
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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said he felt New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. was the best player in the 2014 draft but said he didn’t have control over getting him.
In an interview with ProFootballTalk on Wednesday, Kelly reminded members of the media that he had openly stated his position prior to the 2014 NFL draft that he felt Beckham – who was drafted No. 12 overall by the Eagles’ bitter division rival – was the No. 1 overall talent available in the draft.
“I said it a year ago: I thought Odell Beckham was the best player in the draft. I was right. We didn’t have a chance to get Odell Beckham, but a lot of it depends on where you’re selecting,” Kelly said.
Though regarding the Eagles’ decision not to move up in the draft from the 26th overall pick (which was used to draft defender Marcus Smith), Kelly said he deferred to GM Howie Roseman, who at the time had full draft decision making authority.
“I didn’t have final say so, I mean, you always defer to who’s in charge,” Kelly said.
However, since the end of the 2014 season, the Eagles have given the reins of the draft over to Kelly, and he will have full authority over the Eagles’ draft in 2015.
Beckham Jr. would go on to lead the league with an astounding 108.8 yards/game and lead all rookies with 1,305 receiving yards in only 12 games played. For his efforts and his incredible eye-popping catches against the likes of the Dallas Cowboys, he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Eagles did choose to select WR Jordan Matthews in the second round of the draft with the 42nd overall pick. Though he finished the season with half as many yards/game as Beckham, Matthews still finished the season fifth among all rookie receivers with 872 yards and fourth with 8 receiving TDs.
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