Position Preview: Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are standouts. Jahan Dotson is an emerging No. 3. Beyond that, how does it look for the Eagles’ wide receivers room? It’s a wide-open question and the truth is, the three preseason games and the two joint practices with the Cleveland Browns are going to go a long way towards helping to determine how the Eagles line up their wide receivers within the 53-man roster for 2025.
The Eagles have receivers in all shapes and sizes on this roster competing for jobs. Howie Roseman and his staff will likely determine who the team keeps will be based on how they play in the three weeks to come.
“It’s been fun to watch. They’re all different,” Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo said on Sunday morning. “All those guys that are competing for those spots in the back end, we’ve got some fast guys, we’ve got some bigger guys. They all bring a different element to the table and so it’s just a matter of getting them in the right position to see them do what they do best. And so, each day there’s a different guy that’s kind of shown up and made a play and done something where we’re like, ‘OK.’
“And I think really what it’s going to come down to is the whole body of work. We’ve got a long way to go, and you don’t realize how many weeks we actually have left until these games and the joint practices will really be critical for those guys, especially to see what they do against other competition.”
Johhny Wilson proved last season that he could help the offense in run-blocking situations and as a tall-bodied option in the passing game, and Ainias Smith has taken steps forward in his second season. Both are expected to be productive in the preseason, starting Thursday against the Bengals.
The remaining group of wide receivers are here to prove it. Elijah Cooks is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds and he has flashed in this camp, but to make the 53-man roster, players have to show up on a consistent basis. Avery Williams was signed as an unrestricted free agent and the Eagles think he has ability as a receiver and a return man and that is what he will have to show in the coming weeks. Terrace Marshall has some experience from his seasons with the Panthers and Raiders, but he’s had a knee injury and has missed the last few days of Training Camp.
Darius Cooper, Giles Jackson, Taylor Morin, and Ife Adeyi are all rookies and are eager to get on the field on Thursday and make some plays. – Dave Spadaro