Free-agent wide receivers the Eagles should team with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith

Here's a look at three wide receivers the Philadelphia Eagles should target in free agency to be the new No. 3 option.
Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders
Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders / Mitchell Leff/GettyImages
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The NFL offseason presents an opportunity for the Philadelphia Eagles to address a few holes on the roster. One of those holes exists at the wide receiver position. Veteran depth players Julio Jones, Quez Watkins, and Olamide Zaccheus are all set to become unrestricted free agents come March 13.

The superstar duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith has proven to be more than capable of carrying the load in Philly's passing game. Adding another weapon for quarterback Jalen Hurts to target would open things up for the offense. That's what everyone wants to see. Here's a look at three of the best options in free agency.

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

The Eagles would benefit from adding someone who can start in the slot right away. Look no further than Tyler Boyd. The eight-year vet lined up in the slot on over 75% of his offensive snaps with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. He totaled more than 650 receiving yards for the sixth straight season.

That's impressive given Boyd has played alongside players like A.J. Green, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins during his career. The Pittsburgh product knows how to find soft spots when coverage is focused on downfield threats. That would come in handy when Brown and Smith are running deep routes.

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Boyd averages 50.0 receiving yards per game in his career and has the size (6-foot-2, 203 pounds) to be a solid run-blocker. Signing him on a short-term deal with an expected average annual value (AAV) of $8-9 million would grant Philadelphia a win-now contributor and a mentor for a some of the team's younger players.

Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders

Curtis Samuel projects similarly to Boyd in the fact that versatility is his strong suit. His AAV is expected to be near $8 million. He doesn't provide much as a run-blocker, though. The 27-year-old has also produced as a rusher. 715 career yards on the ground and seven rushing touchdowns are also a part of his resume.

That last nugget is interesting as Eagles wideouts have tallied just 36 total rushing yards over the last three years. Samuel would provide new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore with a different way to get the ball in the hands of the top playmakers. Don't overlook his consistency as a receiver though.

Samuel posted the lowest drop percentage on the Washington Commanders in 2023 (2.2%) despite seeing a robust 91 targets on the campaign. A sure-handed option Hurts can target when the blitz is in his face or other receivers are locked down is exactly what the Philadelphia offense has been lacking.

K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings

K.J. Osborn may not be as recognizable a name as Boyd or Samuel, but his production speaks for itself. After only playing special teams snaps as a rookie in 2020, Osborn has now put up at least 540 yards in each of the last three years and has logged 15 career touchdowns as Minnesota's No. 3 WR.

A whopping 14 of those 15 scores have been in the second half or overtime, so it's safe to say Osborn gets more dangerous as the game evolves. The former fifth-round pick finished with at least 30 yards in nine games in 2023, which is triple the amount of times Jones, Zaccheus, and Watkins did.

Keep in mind Osborn's failure to step into a No. 2 role when Justin Jefferson was injured in 2023 could scare some NFL teams away. The Eagles would be smart to take advantage of a lower price tag as a team in need of depth, not stars. Osborn has the skill set to slide in as a reliable starter in the slot.

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