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For the first time since 2021, the Philadelphia Eagles are entering an NFL season with at least a few legitimate questions to answer at wide receiver.

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Howie Roseman’s 2022 NFL Draft trade for then-Titans star A.J. Brown proved to be one of the best acquisitions in franchise history, with Brown helping the Eagles reach the playoffs in all four of his seasons with the team, including two Super Bowl appearances and one title. But Brown is off to a new destination with the Patriots — and Philadelphia’s offseason has been defined by life without him.

With the off-the-field drama of Brown in the rearview mirror, the Eagles took a depth approach to replacing him, utilizing the draft and free agency for additions. Until Week 1 arrives, though, there will be little clarity on the roles within the wide receiver room.

Here’s an updated look at the Eagles’ wide receiver depth chart and how different names have fared so far this preseason.

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Eagles WR depth chart

It remains to be seen how many wide receivers the Eagles keep on their roster for the 2026 season. Four receivers are considered near-locks, with a three players likely competing for either one or two spots.

Regardless, Nick Sirianni and new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion appear to have solid depth at the position for the 2026 season, a change from past years, when Brown and Devonta Smith dominated the target share.

Here’s a look at the latest on the names in the Eagles’ receiver room.

Devonta Smith

Smith hasn’t been on the field much in recent weeks as he’s dealt with a hamstring injury. However, he’s not only expected to be ready for Week 1 in September — he could be in line for a career year. 

If there’s one player aligned to make a leap into true stardom in the wake of the Brown trade, it’s Smith; he’s long been regarded as one of the most talented WR2s in football. Hurts will be looking his way much more often now. Barring health, Smith has a decent chance to top his career-high of 95 receptions in 2022.

On Wednesday, Smith was back in uniform, gearing up for the regular season after dealing with the hamstring issue.

DeVonta Smith is in uniform with his teammates before the joint practice. Makai Lemon is not. They have missed the last 2 1/2 weeks with hamstring injuries. pic.twitter.com/UbXP5l6R4y

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 19, 2026

Jalen Hurts throwing again to DeVonta Smith

DeVonta has missed the last 2+ weeks with a hamstring injury pic.twitter.com/b0XqQld8cK

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 19, 2026

Dontayvion Wicks

When the Eagles used a first-round pick on a wide receiver in April, it appeared that they had found an immediate Brown replacement of sorts in Makai Lemon. But the summer has shifted things — and beyond Smith, the most buzz of any Eagles receiver has been around Dontayvion Wicks.

The 25-year-old, who spent three years with the Packers, looks destined for a career year in Philadelphia. He never had a high target share in Green Bay due to the system around him and plenty of depth, but with the Eagles needing receivers to step up as starters, Wicks, who has familiarity with Mannion, has looked explosive in training camp. 

During Wednesday’s joint practice with the Patriots, a clip of Wicks breaking some cornerback ankles went viral: 

Dontayvion Wicks gets separation on Charles Woods in 1v1s pic.twitter.com/tUCdmggkTI

— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) August 19, 2026

Things may change over the course of the season, but for at least Week 1, Wicks looks like the next man up beyond Smith.

Makai Lemon

There’s still high hopes for Lemon to showcase his elite hands on the NFL stage as a rookie, but expectations for him have been tempered a bit throughout training camp. He’s been sidelined for weeks with a hamstring injury, and because he’s a rookie, that means he’s been unable to build some chemistry with the rest of the offense.

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Reports have indicated that Lemon is still anticipated to be ready for the regular season, but his lack of reps may result in a slower start to his first Eagles campaign. Once he’s acclimated, though, the 5-foot-11 receiver has a chance to be a real difference-maker, excelling at USC with his hands, route-running and overall versatility.

Lemon will have an easy path to targets as a rookie, but his hamstring issues could make his breakout more delayed. He was recently seen ramping up for a return to full practice:

Makai Lemon getting some rehab work after practice: pic.twitter.com/5ot7ex4hIz

— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) August 19, 2026

Hollywood Brown

The last Eagles wide receiver virtually penciled in for a roster spot is veteran Hollywood Brown, who has topped 500 yards in six of his seven NFL seasons. That consistent production, usually as a second- or third-option, led Philadelphia to sign Brown this offseason, and he’s expected to fill some gaps left by Brown’s departure.

The 29-year-old hasn’t gotten a ton of buzz throughout camp, but he likely wasn’t out to prove himself, either. Brown can be a solid downfield threat for Hurts throughout the upcoming season. He’s not going to post huge numbers, but he is fairly reliable.

Elijah Moore

The biggest name of the Eagles’ remaining receivers is Elijah Moore, who isn’t guaranteed to make the final roster, but has carved out a starting-level role in the NFL previously. The 26-year-old posted 640 yards for the Browns in 2023, but after his numbers dropped in 2024, Moore appeared in just nine games for the Bills as a depth option in 2025.

Now, he’s looking to make the Eagles roster and provide a spark behind Smith, Wicks and Lemon. Hurts has reportedly had a few big plays in connection with Moore in training camp.

Moore’s one-year deal was not guaranteed, however, meaning he still has something to prove in the weeks before the regular season.

Darius Cooper

The Eagles have indicated they really like second-year receiver Darius Cooper, but to this point, he’s been unable to prove himself on the field due to a loaded depth chart. As an undrafted rookie out of Tarleton State, Cooper totaled 92 yards on nine receptions following an impressive preseason. With Brown gone, though, that could certainly change in 2026.

Cooper has «excelled» so far in camp, The Athletic’s Zack Berman wrote, with the question being less whether he’ll make the roster than «how much he can contribute.»

Darius Cooper with a double move on Kobee Minor pic.twitter.com/1uu416xYWq

— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) August 19, 2026

“There’s still a lot of time left,” Sirianni said of Cooper recently, per The Athletic. “He’s having a good camp. It’s about being consistent on a daily basis. He’s done a good job being consistent on a daily basis. And he makes some really good catches. Really elite hands, and we know he’s tough and the things that he can do. I’ve been pleased with where he is.»

If Smith or Lemon have to miss time with their hamstring issues, Cooper may benefit most. The more he’s targeted, the more he could prove himself within the Eagles’ 2026 offense.

Play 10/10, but still gotta work on the landing pic.twitter.com/jb9dFpqhgg

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) July 30, 2026

Johnny Wilson

The last receiver considered in contention for the Eagles’ roster is Johnny Wilson, and the primary reason for that is his size. Without Brown, Philadelphia’s receiver room is left without a big-body, red-zone threat. That’s the kind of receiver Wilson is, standing at 6-foot-6. But he’s also very unproven.

The 2024 sixth-round pick out of Florida State had five receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown in 2025 for the Eagles. If he can stand out in the red zone, he has a role to play in 2026, but he may start the season on the practice squad.

Why did Eagles trade A.J. Brown?

If the decision was based solely on his on-field talent, Brown would still be wearing green-and-white this preseason. But his separation with the Eagles came down to a fractured relationship between Brown and the team, with the receiver sharing public complaints about the offense for years.

Even following Eagles wins in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, it wasn’t uncommon to hear quotes from Brown about his lack of involvement in a run-heavy offense. Those off-the-field issues, paired with a first-round playoff exit and Brown’s lowest yards total (1,003) since 2021 last season, made him a clear offseason trade candidate.

The Patriots pounced, betting on Brown’s immense talent and longtime production, while the Eagles said goodbye to their No. 9 all-time leading receiver and star contributor to their 2024 Super Bowl title.

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Drake Maye to AJ Brown pic.twitter.com/hrN7leWtbV

— Brendan (@BulletinBro) August 19, 2026