The Philadelphia Eagles' signing of three wide receivers this offseason has raised a lot of speculation.
Could AJ Brown be traded? Sure. The signings insulated Philadelphia to be able to facilitate a trade, but, these signings do not seem to be about replacing anyone, in my opinion.
It’s about raising the floor of the wide receiver room.
In the pre-draft presser, GM Howie Roseman mentioned how fortunate they have been that their WR depth hasn’t been tested. That’s 100% a fact.
An injury to either DeVonta Smith or AJ Brown could have derailed the offense. The franchise has been fortunate to have a healthy roster during this historic run of two Super Bowl appearances and five straight postseason appearances.
Instead of one player causing a collapse, they now have three additional players who can win in different areas. They have answers to all coverages and flexibility with personnel groupings.
The Eagles might have the best receiving core Jaen Hurts has been provided with since entering the NFL.
Don'tayvion Wicks brings reliability and is a player who knows the scheme that the new OC, Sean Mannion, wants to implement. Wicks can assist with the verbiage, the plays, and how they need to be run, and is a teacher the players can talk to without going to the coaches. That brings a lot of value. Not to mention, he is a chain mover with a lot of upside. If he secures the ball consistently, he is a real threat to opposing defenses and will be an asset to Hurts, especially in the intermediate areas of the field.
Elijah Moore, aside from being a close confidante to AJ Brown, brings quick twitch and separation. He will be a guy who can get open fast, create separation, and be an outlet that Hurts can rely on under pressure when he needs to get a quick throw off. Motion, spacing, and slot usage are his game.
Hollywood Brown will be the vertical threat they need to open up everything else underneath. He will change how defenses align against the Eagles' offense. He will not be a high-volume target alpha receiver, but he is there to tolt the field and stress the defense, not to be a foundational piece.
This is how you build a successful WR room and passing attack. The Eagles have multiple receivers who can win in different areas, so they can deploy different personnel packages and have the depth and skills to run the offense if one of their top two receivers misses any time.
This is how you build a receiving core without forcing players to be something they’re not, and this is how you become hard to defend with any grouping of pass catchers on the field.
As always, thank you for reading!
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