A.J. Brown is a f***ing champion

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl season is over and the 2025 NFL offseason is officially here. We’re continuing our Eagles roster outlook series by examining the wide receiver position. PREVIOUSLY: Quarterback | Running back | Tight end.

THE PLAYERS

DEVONTA SMITH

STATS: 801 snaps, 89 targets, 68 receptions, 833 yards, 12.3 average, 8 TD … 0 fumbles

PLAYOFF STATS: 227 snaps, 17 targets, 16 receptions, 190 yards, 11.9 average, 1 TD

REVIEW: Prior to 2024, Smith had only ever missed one game. A concussion and a hamstring injury contributed to him missing four games last season. That much combined with a run-heavy offense led to Smith posting career lows in targets and receiving yards. Smith did post career highs in touchdowns scored, receiving success rate, and passer rating when targeted (120.7), however. So, less volume but more efficiency. Smith made no shortage of incredible grabs over the course of the 2024 season, including his one-handed touchdown grab against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Smith also set a new Eagles franchise record for playoff receiving yards and he caught the game-sealing dagger in Super Bowl LIX.

OUTLOOK: Smith is an awesome player who doesn’t turn 27 until mid-November. He’s signed through 2028.

MY TAKE: Stay.

A.J. BROWN

STATS: 766 snaps, 97 targets, 67 receptions, 1079 yards, 16.1 average, 7 TD … 0 fumbles

PLAYOFF STATS: 245 snaps, 23 targets, 12 receptions, 163 yards, 13.6 average, 2 TD

REVIEW: After missing just one game from 2022-2023, Brown missed three games early in the 2024 season due to a hamstring injury. Not rushing him back turned out to be a pretty good decision since he was very effective when he did return to the field. As was the case with Smith, Brown’s receiving production volume took a hit with the Eagles being such a run-heavy offense. But he took advantage of his opportunities and was mostly boringly excellent. The Eagles’ passing game struggles clearly frustrated Brown at one point but any ire did not last long with him and Jalen Hurts quickly getting on the same page. Brown was hampered by an injury that seemingly limited him in the Eagles’ first two playoff games but he looked much more like his usual self in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles ended up going 16-1 in games played by Brown, with the one loss being Week 16 when Hurts suffered a first quarter concussion and was ruled out. Celebrating his inner excellence, Brown delivered a great line during his speech from the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade: “They said I was a diva. They said all I cared about was stats. You can get all of those things wrong about me … but there’s one thing you can get right: I’m a fucking champion!

OUTLOOK: A.J. Brown is one of the best Eagles players we’ll ever watch. The 27-year-old is signed through 2029 and he’s probably going to be as unguardable as ever again next season.

MY TAKE: Stay.

JAHAN DOTSON

STATS: 674 snaps, 33 targets, 19 receptions, 216 yards, 11.4 average, 0 TD … 1 rushing attempt, 13 rushing yards … 0 fumbles

PLAYOFF STATS: 156 snaps, 5 targets, 3 receptions, 53 yards, 17.7 average, 1 TD

REVIEW: The Eagles traded a 2025 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-round picks to the Washington Commanders for Dotson and a 2025 fifth-round pick back on August 22. There was hope that the former first-round selection would be a really nice WR3 for the Birds … but he struggled to produce even when Smitty and Brown missed games early in the season. Prior to Week 18, Dotson had just 12 receptions for 122 yards and zero touchdowns in 16 games played. He then had a good game going up against an obviously tanking New York Giants team in the Eagles’ regular season finale. Dotson also had a touchdown grab in the Eagles’ Wild Card win and nearly had the first touchdown scored in the Super Bowl. So, he ultimately finished the season on a strong note despite ranking 112th out of 112 wide receivers in yards per route run.

OUTLOOK: Dotson is never going to be a target monster as long as Brown and Smitty are healthy. But there’s a lot of room between dominating targets and mostly being a total non-factor like Dotson was for most of 2024. There has to be a way to get him a little more involved. Perhaps Hurts and Dotson getting a full offseason together will help them build more chemistry and make the QB more willing to target his WR3. The Eagles will likely not pick up Dotson’s fifth-year option, thus making 2025 a contract year for him.

MY TAKE: Stay.

JOHNNY WILSON

STATS: 369 snaps, 15 targets, 5 receptions, 38 yards, 7.6 average, 1 TD … 0 fumbles

PLAYOFF STATS: 39 snaps, 1 target, 0 receptions

REVIEW: The rookie Wilson did some nice things in training camp but clearly not nice enough to be WR3. He mostly contributed as a blocking WR, though he did have a touchdown catch as a red zone target against the Dallas Cowboys. His sole playoff target was a dropped pass in the Super Bowl.

OUTLOOK: Wilson has the potential to be an interesting role player. His 6’6”, 231 pound frame gives him an edge as a blocker and makes him a red zone receiving threat. He could be a good WR4/WR5 to have around. It’ll be interesting to see if he can make any kind of developmental leap from Year 1 to Year 2.

MY TAKE: Stay.

PARRIS CAMPBELL

STATS: 140 snaps, 8 targets, 6 receptions, 30 yards, 5.0 average, 1 TD … 0 fumbles

PLAYOFF STATS: 24 snaps

REVIEW: Campbell’s limited receiving production came early in the season when Smitty and Brown were injured. He mostly served as a depth WR either on the roster or practice squad.

OUTLOOK: If the Eagles want to bring Campbell back on a minimum contract to compete for a roster spot next season, sure. But they’d be rooting for a young player to beat him out.

MY TAKE: Go.

AINIAS SMITH

STATS: 96 snaps, 9 targets, 7 receptions, 41 yards, 5.9 average, 1 TD … 2 rushing attempts, 6 rushing yards … 0 fumbles

REVIEW: Smith had a really bad start to training camp before ultimately turning it around. He began the regular season on injured reserve before the Eagles activated him. The coaching staff tried to get the rookie receiver involved with some designed touches but those plays were pretty unproductive. Smith logged four catches for 35 yards and one touchdown in the Wek 18 finale when the Eagles were resting their starters.

OUTLOOK: Smith really needs to have a better offseason this year in order to make the 2025 roster and have a role. The guess here is that he’ll end up on the outside looking in. Prove us wrong, Ainias.

MY TAKE: Go.

BRITAIN COVEY

STATS: 50 snaps, 8 targets, 7 receptions, 34 yards, 4.9 average, 0 TD … 0 fumbles

REVIEW: Multiple injury issues limited Covey to just five games played in 2024. In addition to returning punts, it seemed like he was due for a bigger offensive role than he previously had.

OUTLOOK: Covey is set to be a restricted free agent. The Eagles will likely not tender him since the lowest value is a little under $3.3 million for one year. They’ll instead likely let Covey hit free agency, which could result in him realizing Philly is the best opportunity for him. Ideally, Covey can serve as a depth WR and return punts for the Eagles in 2025. Getting Cooper DeJean off punt return duty and allowing him to solely focus on playing defense seems preferable.

MY TAKE: Stay.

JOHN ROSS

STATS: 12 snaps, 2 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards

REVIEW: Ross was pushing for a roster spot before a preseason injury set him back. The veteran ended up signing to the practice squad and saw game action in Week 4 when the Eagles were without both A.J. and DeVonta. He was later released from the practice squad in early December. Guessing that Ross will be going back into retirement.

DANNY GRAY

REVIEW: The Eagles signed Gray, a 2022 third-round pick (No. 105 overall), to their practice squad in September. He spent the entire season on the PS.

OUTLOOK: Gray has an uphill battle to make next year’s roster but he’ll get a chance to show he belongs during offseason practices and preseason games.

MY TAKE: Go.

ELIJAH COOKS

REVIEW: The Eagles signed Cooks to their practice squad for one week during the playoffs. Then they cut him and re-signed him after winning the Super Bowl. v

OUTLOOK: Cooks has an uphill battle to make next year’s roster but he’ll get a chance to show he belongs during offseason practices and preseason games.

MY TAKE: Go.

NFL FREE AGENCY OR TRADES

Between A.J. and DeVonta, the Eagles have two of the top 11 wide receivers in terms of average salary. They also traded up Day 2 pick to acquire Dotson. They’re not going be spending significant resources at this position.

If anything, they could sign a player or two to the veteran minimum to compete for a role as WR4/WR5/WR6.

A return to Philly could make sense for Zach Pascal, who’s been willing to be a “dirty work” guy that mainly contributes as a run blocker and special teams player.

Jalen Reagor will be a free agent! Pass.

NFL DRAFT APPROACH

Unless the value is simply too good, I don’t see the Eagles drafting a wide receiver until Day 3.