Dorial Green-Beckham’s disappointing career takes another hit after release from Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles released Dorial Green-Beckham on Friday morning to make space for a fourth quarterback on the roster, rookie Dane Evans.

Last August, Green-Beckham was traded to the Eagles from the Titans, who selected him at No. 40 overall in the 2015 NFL draft. In 2016, he had just 36 catches for 396 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles made it a point to get better weapons for Carson Wentz this offseason, picking up veterans Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. Aside from making room for Evans, it’s clear that Green-Beckham just wasn’t doing enough to stick around in a wide receivers room that also includes Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, and rookies Greg Ward, Mack Hollins, and Shelton Gibson.

Green-Beckham’s lack of success has been surprising. He was the top player in his class coming out of high school, per the 247Sports Composite. He showed why at Missouri with plays that made him look like Calvin Johnson:

After a standout freshman season, Green-Beckham ran into legal troubles that led him to be dismissed from Missouri after his sophomore season in 2014. He transferred to Oklahoma but never played with the Sooners before entering the NFL draft.

He showed flashes during his rookie season, including this vicious touchdown. He used his 6’5, 240 pound frame to bounce off a would-be tackler for a score:

The Titans didn’t get enough out of Green-Beckham, though. Head coach Mike Mularkey pointed toward his work ethic as a reason why.

“That’s spending extra time when nobody is watching,” Mularkey told ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky in August of 2016. “That’s doing things when nobody is watching. That’s in the classroom. I think it’s just putting the work in without being directed by anybody. Doing it yourself.”

After being on two teams in two seasons after being a second-round pick, the future doesn’t look great for Green-Beckham. But he still has the raw talent to make a change at just 24 years of age.