Surging Eagles receivers may eventually put pressure on younger teammates
Occasional glances at the Philadelphia Eagles' roster keep bringing us back to a theory that most Birds enthusiasts won't mind repeating. 'Damn, this team is loaded'. There are arguably stars at every position, but as is the case with every other team, some areas need depth.
After all, an NFL season is a challenging journey: 18 weeks, 17 games, and, if fortunate, the top performers qualify for postseason play, where the competition is fiercer and the weather is harsher than during the regular season.
People often discuss Philadelphia's offense, and for good reason. Their quarterback is the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Their offensive line is the best in the business. Pro Football Focus believes the same is true of their receiving corps.
PFF's theory involves Dallas Goedert, a tight end, but even though the consensus is that there is a massive drop-off in talent (which there is), the Eagles may field a deeper receiving corps than they are given credit for.
Philadelphia declined Jahan Dotson's fifth-year option, but he's a solid third option at wide receiver. There's something else to consider, though. The emergence of two veterans may make it difficult for two second-year stars when we begin discussing final roster cuts.
Don't be shocked if second-year WR Johnny Wilson plays himself off the Eagles' 53-man roster.
Every year in training camp, we play the numbers game. It's probably too early for this, but let's do some roster crunching now. Philadelphia is expected to keep about six wide receivers on the 53-man roster. That's typically how they do business, and the league average.
A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jahan Dotson are making this team. That means the other nine guys they are bringing to camp are, in all likelihood, competing for the final three spots.
Danny Gray won a Super Bowl ring as a practice squad member last February, but his experience also gives him an edge on some of the new faces, one being newly acquired Terrace Marshall. The latter's career didn't work out in Carolina, but he and Gray did themselves a lot of favors with standout moments at OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
If the Eagles like Gray and Marshall a lot, which seems like a reasonable and truthful observation. We've already got five names. Depending on how Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson perform, they could be in a heap of trouble come final cuts.
Philadelphia likes Wilson's size. Heck, they've been obsessed with finding big targets for several seasons now, but Wilson doesn't catch the ball very well, which isn't something you'd like to hear about a young wide receiver.
Smith was supposed to be more valuable because he was expected to be a wideout who provided value on special teams as a punt returner. The truth is he's mediocre at both. It's year two for Smith and Wilson, the NFL equivalent of a sophomore season. Circle their names and add a note.
Both of these young men are valuable and likeable. Still, despite being drafted nearly 14 months ago, neither is assured of a roster spot and may be on a collision course with the Eagles' 16-man practice squad.
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