Eagles WRs ranked among best in the NFL by Executives and Coaches
After a great first season in Philadelphia that earned him Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro Selection, Eagles Wide Receiver AJ Brown is receiving more accolades ahead of Training Camp and the start of the 2023 NFL season.
This week, ESPN+ published their yearly survey results after speaking with NFL League Executives, Coaches, Scouts, and Players, totaling 80 voters who submit their ballots for the top ten players at every position group. We saw three Eagles Offensive Lineman land in the top ten rankings, and now ESPN+ survey results landed AJ Brown in the top ten of their Wide Receiver Rankings. After receiving an Honorable Mention on last year's list, here is the explanation for how Brown landed seventh overall on this year's list:
Brown was a fixture on top-10 ballots after a banner first year in Philadelphia. The Eagles sent their first-round pick to Tennessee on draft night in 2022 for the right to acquire Brown, then turned around and paid him $100 million over four years. Brown validated that faith with career highs in receptions (88) and yards (1,496), the latter breaking Philadelphia's single-season receiving record. That's on top of 11 touchdowns.
"Exceptionally strong," a veteran NFL scout said. "Great ball skills and feel for the game. Doesn't have great speed to create deep separation but makes big plays through tight coverage."
Brown can take over a game. He surpassed 150 yards in three games, tied for second-most in Eagles history for a season.
AJ Brown was not the only Eagles player who was profiled in the article; 2020 Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith is entering his third year in Philadelphia and received an Honorable Mention after receiving some votes as a top WR from some people around the NFL:
The Eagles have a true No. 1 in A.J. Brown, but Smith is 1A with No. 1 abilities. Pre-2021-draft concerns about his slender frame haven't deterred Smith, who has 159 catches and 2,112 yards through two seasons. His 6.9% catch rate above expectation ranks first among this group. "Excellent at the nuances of the position," a national NFL scout said. "Really good pure receiver. Needs to win at the line with technique due to his size, but he does that well."
With Eagles Training Camp starting next week, we are all excited to see how year two plays out with the Eagles talented Wide Receiver duo playing with NFL MVP-Runner Up and Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts.