Over the years, wide receivers have been the subject of much discussion, and something tells us they'll continue to be. The Philadelphia Eagles know the elation of being home to great talent on the outside, but they also understand what stagnant offense looks like when there isn't any.
Merrill Reese once referred to DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Jason Avant as the best trio he had seen while covering the franchise (and, he would know). Recently, his game day call offers his takes on a duo that is on the verge of being the best in the history of this organization.
Through the years, Birds fans have seen legends (Mike Quick) and Pro Football Hall of Famers (Harold Carmichael). They have also seen free-agent additions who turned the clock back upon arrival (Irving Fryar).
But, first-round draft busts are also a part of the story (Jalen Reagor). So is seeing Cris Carter leave to get his life on track (and, we're glad he did), but that means we had to watch him become a Hall od Famer in Minnesota.
We won't complain about 'Reag' too much. Many (myself included) believe a huge reason for his selection was that his father, Montae, and Eagles wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead were former teammates.
And, you aren't talking me out of this.
But, look at the bright side. Had Philly not missed the mark by selecting Reagor over Justin Jefferson, they wouldn't have added DeVonta Smith in Round 1 a year later. They may not have traded for A.J. Brown.
So that being said, maybe things worked out as they needed to, but here we sit a few years later. We are again discussing the wide receiver position.
Here are the 2025 NFL Draft's top four wide receivers
They've been called 'divas', which, in all honesty, is probably one of the worst things one can call an alpha male. Colin Cowherd once called them a 'luxury' and not 'a necessity'.
We lived through Donovan McNabb's era, so we know how great things can be when an elite talent gets an elite complement like Terrell Owens. We also understand the pain of watching James Thrash and Todd Pinkston.
If there's one area where Philly can improve its roster-building process, it's in the evaluation of draft prospects who play the wide receiver position. Philly struck gold with DeVonta Smith, Jeremy Maclin, and DeSean Jackson. The 'misses' have unfortunately been too common: Shelton Gibson, John Hightower, Quez Watkins. And, the jury is still out on Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson.
Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Wildcats
The consensus is Philly should invest one of its eight current picks on a wideout. There's been debate on how early they should do so.
Once we get past the most recent Heisman Trophy winner, cornerback/WR hybrid Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan looks like the best prospect in his class.
McMillan will be long gone before the Birds are on the clock at 32, but his resume speaks for itself. He has had elite production at Arizona despite the Wildcats being limited at quarterback.
Luther Burden III, Missouri Tigers
We've seen theories where Luther Burden III was connected to Philly. One of the more memorable was drawn up by Chris Trapasso at Athlon Sports. Like McMillan, however, it seems Burden wouldn't be available when the Birds are on the clock at 32.
You never know though. We never thought Philly could land Quinyon Mitchell. Look how that turned out.
We once thought of Luther as one of the 'sneaky' guys who might rise, but the secret has been out for a while. This guy is truly special. He'll hear his name called in Round 1.
Matthew Golden, Texas Longhorns
Here's the speedster. Thoughts of Matthew Golden in an Eagles jersey makes one think this offense could average 35 points per game if he is added. His 4.29-second 40-yard dash time didn't go unnoticed, but again, it's unlikely that Philly will go with a wide receiver early...
Right?
Well, how about this? For the sake of argument, let's just peek at the resume:
134 receptions, 1,975 yards receiving, 22 TDs, and Second-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2023 after 36 career games with Houston from 2022-23 and a 16-game run with Texas last season.
Yep! This is someone to make note of.
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State Buckeyes
Emeka Egbuka notched 205 receptions, 2,868 yards receiving, and 24 receiving TDs. He also gained 145 yards with two rushing TDs on 24 career carries.
He was honored with a Second-Team All-Big Ten mention (2022) and two Third-Team All-Big Ten nods (2023, 2024). Don't expect to see him in an Eagles jersey either.
Let's talk about more realistic options.
Ranking the Eagles' top realistic WR options
Might any of these guys be among the newest Eagles after the 2025 NFL Draft? These are the best prospects remaining after we establish the top four.
Elic Ayomanor, Stanford Cardinal
Having a high football IQ is one thing. Being a Stanford student is something else entirely. Elic Ayomanor is a brainiac who can probably do anything he wants. He just happens to enjoy playing football.
He's also good at what he does. We realize some of you are still scarred by J.J. Arcega-Whiteside's selection and the knowledge that Jeffrey Lurie wanted him because he saw similarities to Alshon Jeffrey.
Look at the bright side though. Philly also found Zach Ertz and Tanner McKee at Stanford. Don't discredit Ayomanor because of where he played his college ball.
Jayden Higgins, Iowa State Cyclones
Jayden Higgins stands at six-foot-four and weighs in at 215 pounds. He tallied 87 receptions, 1,183 yards receiving, and nine TDs in 2024.
Philly keeps trying to find these big-bodied wide receivers. That isn't a bad thing, but if they're sticking to that strategy, Higgins may already be what they hope Johnny Wilson becomes.
Jack Bech, TCU Horned Frogs
From the land of Jalen Reagor, we find two more great receivers as TCU fielded Savion Williams and Jack Bech last season. The latter exploded last season for 62 receptions, 1,034 yards, and nine TDs after three pedestrian seasons. Now, comes the question. Is he the real deal or a one-hit wonder?
Jalen Royals, Utah State Aggies
Jalen Royals isn't the exciting and athletic talent that scouts, teams, and fans rave over, but he's a solid possession receiver who can snag contested catches in the end zone or move the chains in third-down situations.
Kyle Williams, Washington State Cougars
Maybe we shouldn't say this Kyle Williams reminds us of Jahan Dotson in some ways. Last season, the former Cougars standout tallied 70 catches for 1,198 yards with 14 touchdowns. Now, had he done that for a more celebrated program, we might be discussing him as a Day 1 prospect.
Tre Harris, Ole Miss Rebels
Philly hosted Tre Harris on a Top 30 visit, and a glance at his college tape reveals why they did so. Despite missing time with injury, he has been one of the most productive receivers in the NCAA when present.
Try 60 catches for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns on for size. He earned 2024 First-Team All-SEC honors for his efforts and did so vs. some great defenses in one of college football's best conferences.