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The DiCecco Daily: Examining Eagles WR Room Post-Dontayvion Wicks Trade · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

• 0:09
  Speaker 2: What is going on? Everyone?
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: Welcome into another episode of to check O Daily. It's
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: Andrew de Checko, Eagles beat reporter Friendsidethebirds dot Com and
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: Adam Kaplan has you covered on the Dantavian Wicks trade.
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: In case you missed it, there is an ITB emergency
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: podcast where Adam gives you the ins and outs of
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: the trade. So I won't exhaust that topic, but I
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: will get into the wide receiver room as a whole
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: and where those pieces may be fit into the puzzle
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: as it pertains to the twenty twenty sixth season. We'll
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: start at the top. What does this trade mean for
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: Aj Brown? Well, it should also be added that there's
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: a one year extension for twelve and a half million
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: for Dantavian Wick, so he'll be an Eagle through the
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: twenty twenty seventh season. And all that trade does is
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: certain certainly heighten the likelihood that AJ will be moved
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: to some point, but not a lot to add because
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: as of right now, Aj is a Philadelphia Eagle. You
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: know what he's going to do when he's on the field.
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: One of the best receivers in the game, and he
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: obviously heads that group.
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: As of today.
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: DeVante Smith, I think is going to benefit greatly from
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: this offense and that they're going to move him around.
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: I think the route concepts and the spacing should help
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: shake him free. He is likely to have a bigger
• 1:30
  Speaker 1: impact as a vertical threat in this offense and create
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: more explosive plays. And I think that this could be
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: his best season to date. Whether he's the number two
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: to AJ Brown or the number one, I think he
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: can do both. We know that he can be the
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: number two, but I do believe that DeVante has it
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: in him to be a high end number one for
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: an extended period of time. So those are your top
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: two right now. There's a lot of money invested in
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: both players. AJ Brown is he's owed twenty nine million
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: this year and Devonte Smith fourteen million in total cash,
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: So a lot of money devoted to those top.
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: Two wide receivers.
• 2:09
  Speaker 1: And then I just got into Donavian Wicks, but we'll
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: talk about him next because based off of the Eagles
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: commitment to him, one would assume that he's either going
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: to compete for the second job if AJ Brown is
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: not in Philadelphia, or he'll be the number three. And
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: I like his ability at six' one two oh. Six
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: he's a physical player who uses his frame. Well he's
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: good on contested, catches razor sharp, routrunner which helps him create.
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: SEPARATION i wouldn't Classify Dntavian wicks as a burner per,
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: se but he knows.
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: How to get open and strong.
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: Hands you'd like to see him clean up on the
• 2:49
  Speaker 1: DROPS a little bit kind of got lost in the
• 2:52
  Speaker 1: mix amongst the abundance of talent that The Green Bay
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: packers had at wide receiver In Matthew, Golden Christian, watson
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: just to name a. Few There's Tucker craft as. Well
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: he was, injured but he's a big part of their,
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: offense and he lands In philadelphia with perhaps a greater.
• 3:12
  Speaker 1: Opportunity and it should also be outlined That Dontavian wicks
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: has familiarity With eagles offensive Coordinator Sean, mannion of, course
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: but also run game coordinator and tight ends Coach Ryan,
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: mahaffey who served for two seasons as The Green Bay
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: packers wide receivers. Coach so a unique amount of intel
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: that those two coaches had into Don Tavian, wicks and
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: perhaps they saw enough being around him and being close
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: to him to suggest that an expanded roll a weights
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: and that he'll be.
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: Able to handle.
• 3:43
  Speaker 1: That BUT i don't view him as any worse than
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: a number three receiver based off of. Investment The eagles
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: also gave up two picks to get, him so those
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: are your top. Three then you Have Hollywood. BROWN i
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: Mentioned Hollywood brown five million this. Year he's going to
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: be on the roster barring something. Unforeseen he gives The
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: eagles a vertical. Element he can stretch the. Field this
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: could be a chance for him to kind of really
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: bounce back after not necessarily fulfilling expectations. Elsewhere The eagles
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: and this offense could Put Hollywood brown in a position
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: where his skill set, accentuates is, accentuated and it offers
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: a different dimension than what The eagles have traditionally. Done
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: they just have to turn him loose and let him
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: get vertical And jay When hurts throws a really nice deep,
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: ball and that could potentially.
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: Be a really good.
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: Pairing but beyond, that you Have Elijah, moore who's bounced
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: around a little bit in his young, career still, young
• 4:41
  Speaker 1: still possesses theoretical. Upside But i've said this when The
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: eagles agreed to the one year, deal BUT i would
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: also say it, again he's going to have to really
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: impress to make the. Roster he doesn't play special. Teams
• 4:55
  Speaker 1: he's a slot only, player and while there is theoretic upside,
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: there he has yet to fully realize that realize that,
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: potential or he wouldn't have bounced around as. Much so
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: he's going to have to have a strong training camp
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: and maybe even have to try his hand in special
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: teams in order to stick. Around So i'm not necessarily
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: counting him into the, mix But i'm just running through
• 5:18
  Speaker 1: the names. Here then you Have Darius, cooper AND i
• 5:20
  Speaker 1: was asked by my Buddy Bill colarulo on ninety seven
• 5:24
  Speaker 1: to Five The fanatic about what that could mean For Darius. Cooper,
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: certainly just because he made the roster last, season nothing's
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: assured for the following. Season but WHAT i can tell
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: you About Darius cooper is that he approached it with that.
• 5:39
  Speaker 1: Mentality every day was an audition where he went out
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: there and made plays and was consistent and approached it
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: like a business like a business like, scenario and he
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: didn't take anything for. GRANTED i imagine he's going to
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: enter training camp with a similar mindset knowing that nothing
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: is owed to. Him just because you made the roster
• 5:58
  Speaker 1: last season doesn't mean that that's going to pete. Itself
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: you have to be your best every day and give
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: The eagles a reason to keep you. Around What i'll
• 6:06
  Speaker 1: say About Darius cooper is he was a part of
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: the push play. Personnel for what it's, worth he had
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: a defined role, there and he can help on special.
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: Teams that is going to be key when you look
• 6:18
  Speaker 1: at the final spots as you're slotting the receivers and
• 6:23
  Speaker 1: trying to figure out the pecking. Order it could come
• 6:27
  Speaker 1: down to special team when you're talking about receivers four
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: or five and maybe. Six And Darius cooper's been a
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: good story of development to this point and he'll have
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: to continue to build on that because the.
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: Room just got a little bit more.
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: Crowded Johnny wilson returns for another, season And Johnny wilson's
• 6:45
  Speaker 1: coming off a knee ankle injury that he sustained in training.
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: Camp The eagles sorely missed his blocking ability last, season
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: AND i think that was sort of an underrated. Loss
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: he'll have to probably prove that he can be a
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: little bit more than just a blocker and free teammates
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: up to make. Plays Johnny WILSON i thought last summer
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: had a eye opening training camp in the sense THAT
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: i thought he was using his body and playing to
• 7:09
  Speaker 1: his size more often than. Not there were a couple,
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: exceptions but he seemed to be playing with more. Confidence
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: he was attacking the, football and the way that it
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: was looking was that he was going to have a
• 7:19
  Speaker 1: little bit of a bigger role in year two as
• 7:23
  Speaker 1: a pass catcher as opposed to just being known as a,
• 7:26
  Speaker 1: blocking blocking wide. Receiver SO i like his special teams
• 7:31
  Speaker 1: upside because he does contribute in the third. Phase so
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: that's important to, note and these things matter when you're
• 7:38
  Speaker 1: parsing down the final.
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: Roster So i'm really.
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: Interested to see How Johnny wilson returns from the, injury
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: but also where he is in terms of his development
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: as a pass catcher and if he's able to kind
• 7:50
  Speaker 1: of elbow his way into the roster. Consideration beyond that,
• 7:55
  Speaker 1: group you also Have Britton, covey who's a punt. Returner
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: that's something that you know you don't there's nobody really
• 8:03
  Speaker 1: on the roster that has proven that they can do,
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: That so that's an added appeal For. Britain but obviously
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: the odds are stacked against him this, summer and he
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: hasn't had a lot of opportunities as a, receiver AND
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: i THINK i would point back to maybe it was
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: early in the twenty twenty four season where he was
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: in theory he could be a manufactured touch. Guy he's
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: really shifty and dynamic in short area and things like,
• 8:30
  Speaker 1: that but will have to really prove invaluable on special
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: teams to latch onto the. ROSTER i would imagine for another.
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: Season Quees watkins And Danny gray both signed reserve futures
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: deals and they are players that they're long, shots but
• 8:49
  Speaker 1: it you know they both have. Speed Quees watkins especially has.
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: Experienced Danny gray has been injured in his, career was
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: a third round pick of the forty nine and both
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: of those, players at least you're getting experience when every
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: rep in training camp is so, Vital you're getting players
• 9:08
  Speaker 1: that are going to give you quality.
• 9:10
  Speaker 2: Reps but we'll have to see what that all means for.
• 9:12
  Speaker 1: Them they are towards the bottom there when it comes
• 9:15
  Speaker 1: to the receiver room that has grown. Significantly now does
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: the trade for Don Tavian. Wicks should that preclude The
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: eagles from drafting a wide, receiver certainly. Not wide receiver
• 9:26
  Speaker 1: is still a long term concern for The eagles as
• 9:31
  Speaker 1: you try to look towards the future and make sure
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: that you have, young cost controlled options under contract that
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: you can sort of build.
• 9:37
  Speaker 2: Around as that.
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: Pendulum does swing towards the defense when The eagles have
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: a lot of investments that are coming down the way
• 9:48
  Speaker 1: when it comes To Jalen carter and other Players, Quinnon, Mitchell,
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: Cooper dejen you have to start retooling the offense with younger,
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: players and if The eagles are in a position to
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: take up player at that, position whether It's i'm not
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: necessarily sure that it should be the first, round but
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: at pick fifty, four let's say wide Receiver Chris bell From.
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: Louisville i've mentioned him as one of my favorite receiving
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: prospects in this class and how he could fit in this.
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: OFFENSE i wouldn't think twice if he's there and he's
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: your best player, available just because you have a number
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: of receivers, there it shouldn't preclude The eagles.
• 10:23
  Speaker 2: From adding nor DO i believe it.
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  Speaker 1: Up i'm really curious to see What Dantavian wix's role
• 12:47
  Speaker 1: will ultimately be and whether or not being in this
• 12:51
  Speaker 1: offense with these. Coaches he does know the, offense so
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: that certainly helps will help unlock and maybe elevate his.
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: Play now that will have more opportunities to tap in
• 13:03
  Speaker 1: and build off of what he was able to do
• 13:05
  Speaker 1: In Green, bay and he did some good things there
• 13:07
  Speaker 1: for The. Packers even though his involvement in the offense was,
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: sporadic there were moments where you could see the ability
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: the route, running the, separation and his aggressiveness when it
• 13:19
  Speaker 1: comes to attacking the. Catchpoint those are qualities THAT i
• 13:23
  Speaker 1: believe will lend itself to establishing an early rapport With
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: Jalen hurts and being a trusted option because he possesses
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: those qualities that typically yield a good relationship between quarterback
• 13:36
  Speaker 1: and wide. Receiver but as you can, see it's a
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: crowded room at the position right.
• 13:41
  Speaker 2: Now it could get a little bit more.
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: Crowded in a number of days as THE nfl drafts
• 13:45
  Speaker 1: are right around the.
• 13:46
  Speaker 2: Corner what does that. Mean we're going to have to
• 13:49
  Speaker 2: wait and.
• 13:49
  Speaker 1: See but The eagles have certainly armed themselves with optionality
• 13:55
  Speaker 1: depth and we'll see what. Happens but there's a world
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: in which they could have the best four player receiving
• 14:04
  Speaker 1: corps at the top four in THE, nfl depending on what.
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: Happens but those are my immediate, thoughts and that's my
• 14:10
  Speaker 1: rundown of the twenty twenty six wide receiver room as
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: it stands. Currently that's going to do it for this
• 14:17
  Speaker 1: episode of To Checho. Daily I'm andrew De, checo And
• 14:20
  Speaker 1: i'll catch you all on the next.
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: One