ESPN names this 4th-year WR as the Eagles' 'biggest surprise' of the 2025 offseason
The Eagles have moved past Super Bowl 59 and are locked in on having a singular focus on the 2025 NFL regular season. Howie Roseman orchestrated another roster makeover in free agency, the 10-player NFL Draft, and several talented undrafted free agents. The Organized Team Activities and now the Mandatory Minicamp have concluded, and Philadelphia is wrapping up a five-week break before returning to the NovaCare Complex.
Training Camp begins in late July – July 22 is report day, with a July 23 practice to follow – and Danny Gray is one of the most prominent under-the-radar players to watch.
ESPN recently revealed the biggest off-season surprise for all 32 teams, and Gray was the player who gained the most ground in the wide receiver competition.
The 26-year-old wideout made an impression during the OTA and minicamp practices open to reporters, using his 4.33 speed to stretch the field and accelerate past defenders on catches over the middle. Gray was a third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. He dealt with some injuries and tallied just one reception during his time in San Francisco.
He was waived by the Niners in August and signed with the Eagles' practice squad days later. Philadelphia has one of the top receiving duos in the league in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but there are some roster spots up for grabs lower on the depth chart. Gray will be competing with players like Ainias Smith, Avery Williams and Terrace Marshall during training camp. -- Tim McManus
Gray was a topic of discussion around the NovaCare Complex, and the player we featured in a recent article continues to turn heads at Eagles practice. Gray signed with the Eagles' practice squad in mid-September after failing to make the 49ers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He wasn't elevated for a single game during the 2024 campaign.
Gray has an advantage over Terrace Marshall due to his familiarity with the system. At the same time, Johnny Wilson offers size that the Eagles covet, putting the final roster between Gray, Ainias Smith, and Avery Williams.
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