Eagles Camp Preview: The WRs - Top-Heavy Tandem

The Philadelphia Eagles are well-stocked at receiver with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith but things drop off dramatically from there.

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles are extremely top-heavy in the receiver room, sporting one of the best tandems in the NFL, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, in front of what is shaky depth.

The WR3 spot will likely be a battle between embattled fourth-year receiver Quez Watkins and free-agent pickup Olamide Zaccheaus, a local product returning home.

Others returning to the fold are second-year slot receiver Britain Covey, whose main job description is punt returner, veteran Greg Ward, also a slot-only option, as well as Olympic hurdler-turned-NFL hopeful Devon Allen, and the lengthy Tyrie Cleveland.

The new kids on the block are undrafted rookie free agents Joseph Ngata and Jadon Haselwood, the latter of which played with Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma before transferring to Arkansas, along with rookie camp tryout player Charleston Rambo, who opened some eyes in the spring.

Brown was a second-team All-Pro after breaking the organization’s nearly 40-year-old record for most receiving yards with 1,496 on 88 receptions with 11 touchdowns. Smith earned Pro Bowl alternate status in just his second NFL season after setting the franchise record for receptions by a wideout with 95 for 1,196 yards and seven scores.

The two complement each other well with Brown being the big-bodied physical receiver at 6-1 and 226 pounds and Smith serving as the undersized (6-foot, 170) route-running machine.

What makes the duo really difficult, however, is that they are not limited to the cliched X, Z, or slot designations, and coach Nick Sirianni can feel comfortable moving either to any role on any play which can create major headaches for the defense.

Watkins was a disappointment as the main slot receiver last season, finishing with 33 receptions for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Too often when plays were there to be made, Watkins didn’t finish them. His best trait remains his 4.3-level speed making him best suited to play outside the numbers.

Sirianni spent the spring trying to prop up Watkins and buoy what had been waning confidence late last season.

"I love his attitude, and I've said this to him, and I have no problem saying it here ... we have a ton of confidence in Quez Watkins," Sirianni said. "But I kind of sense from him -- he's never said this, but oh, some people think I stink? Wait. Wait. That's how he's attacked every day. That's how he's attacked practices, and I think that he looks really good."

If Watkins can't turn it around enter Zaccheaus, a natural slot receiver who signed a one-year, prove-it deal, after 40 receptions for 533 yards in Atlanta last season.

Covey came on as a punt returner late in his rookie season and seemed more comfortable in the spring as a slot option with some improved short-area quickness. Allen is one of the fastest people in the world and is trying to make the transition back to football after dedicated years to track.

Most of the developmental types have size with Ngata at 6-3 and both Cleveland and Haselwood listed at 6-2. Rambo was once a producer in college at Miami but ran poorly before the 2022 draft and has missed out on trying to stick with Carolina before going the XFL route with the Orlando Guardians.

Depth Chart (for labeling purposes we will use the X, Z and slot designations):

X (split end) - A.J. Brown; Quez Watkins; Tyrie Cleveland; Joseph Ngata

Z (flanker) - DeVonta Smith; Devon Allen; Charleston Rambo; Jadon Haselwood

Slot- Olamide Zaccheus; Britain Covey; Greg Ward

WHAT’S CHANGED: The only departure is Zach Pascal, who signed in Arizona. While Pascal isn’t much of a threat as a receiver, he’s one of the NFL’s better blockers at the position which was a key role in the Eagles’ RPO-based offense. There really isn’t an obvious replacement on the roster for Pascal other than looking at the size of players like Ngata (6-3, 217), Cleveland (a shade under 6-3 and 205), and Haselwood (6-2, 215). Perhaps one could take on the role at some point.

COACHING: Aaron Moroehead returns for his fourth season coaching the position. A former NFL receiver with Indianapolis, Moorehead was originally hired for Doug Pederson’s final season in 2020 and wasn’t expected to return when Sirianni arrived. Sirianni was hired late, however, and the Eagles ultimately kept Moorehead on when other options didn’t fall into place. Somewhere along the way, Moorehead won Sirianni over and that’s no small feat because the Eagles’ head coach played the position at Mount Union in college and that’s his expertise at a positional level.

At 6-3 himself, Moorehead best identifies with bigger receivers like Brown but has proven he can push undersized players as well as Smith has developed into a star and Covey as a legitimate NFL player.

THE CEILING: The best-case scenario is easy here: Brown and Smith remain in the Pro Bowl conversation while Watkins has a bounce-back season or Zaccheaus settles in as a legitimate WR3. The luxury of Pascal was nice to have and expecting undrafted rookies like Ngata and Haselwood to hit the ground running and show the same savvy as Pascal when it comes to the dirty work is pie in the sky but possible due to their physical statures.

THE LONGSHOT: Ngata, 22, has the obvious path as the replacement for Pascal and it’s even fair to say the rookie might want to use Pascal, a Sirianni favorite, as a template. Pascal isn’t dynamic like Ngata, has the reputation of struggling to generate separation but he’s carved out a six-year career and got $4.5 million over two years from the Cardinals by blocking. In an RPO-based offense that role is even more important.

WHO STAYS/GOES: The Eagles kept five last season (Brown, Smith, Watkins, Pascal, and Covey) and the easiest thing to do is simply sub Zaccheaus in for Pascal. There is room for different thinking, though, especially if Covey loses his grip on the PR job and you want to mirror what Pascal gave the offense with one of the bigger receivers. There’s also the thought that the Eagles could move on from Watkins if he has a poor summer and go outside the organization for a more consistent WR3.

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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen