Eagles 2025 Position Group Report Cards: Wide Receivers

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2025 season with the best wide receiver duo in football. They exited it as Super Bowl champions — and A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith were a massive reason why. But was this group truly elite, or did cracks beneath the surface keep it from reaching its full potential?

Let's break down the wide receiver room and hand out the grades.

A.J. Brown: The Alpha Who Wanted More

A.J. Brown did what A.J. Brown does — he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the third consecutive season as an Eagle, finishing with 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 121 targets. Those are rock-solid WR1 numbers by any measure. Brown remains one of the most physically dominant receivers in football, a nightmare in contested-catch situations and a legitimate deep threat who commands safety attention on every snap.

But the narrative around Brown's 2025 wasn't just about production. It was about frustration. Brown was vocal throughout the season about his target volume, and while 121 targets led the team, it clearly wasn't enough for a player who sees himself as the centerpiece of the passing game. In a run-heavy offense built around Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts' legs, Brown sometimes felt like a spectator in the first half before the Eagles needed him to close games.

The playoffs told a mixed story. Brown had flashes of brilliance but didn't consistently dominate the way you'd expect from a receiver of his caliber when the stakes were highest. Still, he's a top-10 receiver in the NFL, and having him on this roster is a luxury most teams would kill for.

Individual Grade: B+

DeVonta Smith: The Quiet Assassin Strikes Again

If Brown is the thunder, DeVonta Smith is the lightning — precise, surgical, and absolutely lethal when it matters most. Smith bounced back from a career-low 833-yard 2024 campaign to post 1,008 receiving yards in 2025, making Brown and Smith the only receiver duo in Eagles history to each surpass 1,000 yards in multiple seasons together. That's not just good — that's historically significant.

But Smith's real magic came in the postseason. He racked up 16 catches for 190 yards across the playoff run and delivered the dagger in Super Bowl LIX — a touchdown that sealed the Eagles' 40-22 demolition of the Kansas City Chiefs. At just 26 years old, Smith is already the Eagles' all-time leader in postseason receiving yards with 595 yards in nine playoff games. Let that sink in. In a franchise that featured Harold Carmichael, Mike Quick, and Terrell Owens, it's DeVonta Smith who owns the playoff record book.

Smith's route-running remains elite. His ability to separate at the top of routes and make contested catches despite his slender frame is a testament to his technique and football IQ. He's not just a complement to Brown — he's a co-star, and his Super Bowl performance cemented that.

Individual Grade: A

Jahan Dotson: Flashes, But Not Enough

The Eagles traded for Jahan Dotson before the 2024 season hoping he'd solidify the WR3 spot, and in 2025, Dotson showed why he was a first-round pick — in spurts. He finished the regular season with 19 receptions for 219 yards, numbers that won't jump off the stat sheet but don't tell the whole story either. In a run-first offense where Brown and Smith eat, there simply aren't enough targets to go around for a third receiver.

Dotson's best moments came when it counted. He hauled in a touchdown in the Wild Card win over the Packers and added two catches for 42 yards in the Super Bowl. When called upon, he delivered. The question heading into 2026 is whether the Eagles need more from that WR3 spot or if Dotson's role as a capable depth piece behind two stars is enough.

Individual Grade: C+

Depth and Special Teams Contributions

Beyond the top three, the Eagles' receiver depth was functional but unspectacular. Britain Covey continued to provide value as a punt returner and occasional gadget player, but nobody behind Dotson emerged as a legitimate offensive weapon. This is an area Howie Roseman will likely address in the 2026 offseason, whether through the draft or free agency. A championship-caliber roster can survive thin WR depth when the top two are this good, but it's still a vulnerability.

Overall Position Group Grade: B+

Here's the thing about grading the Eagles' wide receivers: the top end is elite, arguably best in the NFL. Brown and Smith both cracking 1,000 yards while playing in a run-dominant offense is remarkable. Smith's postseason heroics — including the Super Bowl-sealing touchdown — elevate this group's legacy beyond regular-season stats.

But the B+ instead of an A comes down to two things: depth and efficiency. The drop-off after Brown and Smith is steep. Dotson showed flashes but wasn't a consistent third option. And Brown's public frustration with targets, while understandable, created unnecessary noise during a championship season. When you win the Super Bowl, everything gets forgiven — but in a vacuum, this group left some meat on the bone.

The Eagles won it all with this receiver room, and that's the ultimate report card. But with Brown entering the back end of his prime and the WR3 spot still unsettled, the 2026 offseason will determine whether this group can sustain its dominance or needs a reshuffling.

This is Part 3 of the Eagles 2025 Position Group Report Cards series. Up next: Tight Ends.