How Eagles WR room with DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon is shaping up in wake of A.J. Brown trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
For the first time since 2021, the Philadelphia Eagles are entering an NFL season with at least a few legitimate questions to answer at wide receiver.
Howie Roseman's 2022 NFL Draft trade for then-Titans star A.J. Brown proved to be one of the best acquisitions in franchise history, with Brown helping the Eagles reach the playoffs in all four of his seasons with the team, including two Super Bowl appearances and one title. But Brown is off to a new destination with the Patriots — and Philadelphia's offseason has been defined by life without him.
With the off-the-field drama of Brown in the rearview mirror, the Eagles took a depth approach to replacing him, utilizing the draft and free agency for additions. Until Week 1 arrives, though, there will be little clarity on the roles within the wide receiver room.
Here's an updated look at the Eagles' wide receiver depth chart and how different names have fared so far this preseason.
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It remains to be seen how many wide receivers the Eagles keep on their roster for the 2026 season. Four receivers are considered near-locks, with a three players likely competing for either one or two spots.
Regardless, Nick Sirianni and new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion appear to have solid depth at the position for the 2026 season, a change from past years, when Brown and Devonta Smith dominated the target share.
Here's a look at the latest on the names in the Eagles' receiver room.
Smith hasn't been on the field much in recent weeks as he's dealt with a hamstring injury. However, he's not only expected to be ready for Week 1 in September — he could be in line for a career year.
If there's one player aligned to make a leap into true stardom in the wake of the Brown trade, it's Smith; he's long been regarded as one of the most talented WR2s in football. Hurts will be looking his way much more often now. Barring health, Smith has a decent chance to top his career-high of 95 receptions in 2022.
On Wednesday, Smith was back in uniform, gearing up for the regular season after dealing with the hamstring issue.
When the Eagles used a first-round pick on a wide receiver in April, it appeared that they had found an immediate Brown replacement of sorts in Makai Lemon. But the summer has shifted things — and beyond Smith, the most buzz of any Eagles receiver has been around Dontayvion Wicks.
The 25-year-old, who spent three years with the Packers, looks destined for a career year in Philadelphia. He never had a high target share in Green Bay due to the system around him and plenty of depth, but with the Eagles needing receivers to step up as starters, Wicks, who has familiarity with Mannion, has looked explosive in training camp.
During Wednesday's joint practice with the Patriots, a clip of Wicks breaking some cornerback ankles went viral:
