Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles roster outlook: Wide receiver
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.
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.
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...
