The Philadelphia Eagles have no shortage of talent at wide receiver. That's pretty well-known. That won't be breaking news to anyone. DeVonta Smith remains the unquestioned leader of the group. At the same time, offseason additions Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks give Philadelphia one of its deepest collections of pass catchers in recent years.
Beyond that quartet, however, the conversation becomes much more complicated. Johnny Wilson appears to have the inside track on the fifth spot entering training camp. He has obvious chemistry with Jalen Hurts. That leaves Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore, Britain Covey, Danny Gray, Erik Ezukanma, Samori Toure and Quez Watkins battling for what may amount to one remaining opportunity to grab
the sixth spot on the depth chart—or perhaps a spot on the practice squad.
That raises an interesting question. Training camp nears. What if the Eagles decide they don't need six receivers on the initial 53-man roster? The modern practice squad has changed roster construction across the NFL.
The sixth receiver may provide more value elsewhere
As most know, teams are no longer forced to keep every developmental player on the active roster to avoid losing them immediately. If Philadelphia believes one of its younger receivers can clear waivers and continue developing on the practice squad, it gains flexibility to strengthen another position instead.
That may ultimately prove more valuable than keeping a sixth receiver who could spend most Sundays inactive. The Eagles already know where targets are likely to go.
Smith, Hollywood Brown, Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley should command the bulk of the offensive touches, while Lemon and Wicks provide additional options in Sean Mannion's offense. That reality makesthe battle for the final receiver spotless about offensive snaps and more about roster management.
Flexibility has always been one of Philadelphia's strengths.
Howie Roseman has rarely built rosters by following convention. If the Eagles believe Cole Payton deserves protection as a fourth quarterback, carrying only five receivers suddenly becomes much easier to justify. The same logic applies if Philadelphia wants another defensive tackle to strengthen a rotation that includes Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Ty Robinson, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, and perhaps Uar Bernard.
One roster decision inevitably affects another. That's why the battle involving Cooper, Covey, Watkins and the rest of the depth chart extends well beyond the wide receiver room itself.
Ultimately, this may not be a competition to determine who earns the sixth receiver spot. It may instead determine whether the Eagles believe that roster spot is better spent somewhere else.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles’ WR depth could create difficult roster decision
