Former Player Slights Eagles Duo in Recent Position Rankings
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Between the high-level play of Saquon Barkley and the infamous "Tush Push," the Philadelphia Eagles' ground attack is the most talked-about facet of their offense. However, one aspect that appears to get overlooked at times is the dynamic talents they have on the outside.
Over the last few years, Howie Roseman has surrounded Jalen Hurts with a pair of talented wide receivers. First, he drafted DeVonta Smith with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 draft. A year later, the Eagles acquired AJ Brown in a trade with the Tennessee Titans.
Since joining forces on the Eagles, Brown and Smith have debated among the best wideout pairings in the NFL. However, one former player isn't ready to give them the crown yet.
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 29: DeVonta Smith #6 celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown with A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles during a game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on October 29, 2023 in...
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 29: DeVonta Smith #6 celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown with A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles during a game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on October 29, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. Brown and Smith are among the better wide receiver duos in the NFL. More
Photo byAlso read: Former NFL Player Sends Message to Ex-Eagles CB Darius Slay
While appearing on NFL Live earlier this week, Allen Robinson ranked his top five receiver duos in the league heading into the 2025 season. Brown and Smith made an appearance, but came in at No. 3. Robinson went with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions duo Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
"Those two guys right there," Robinson said. "Those guys are very consistent. Even seeing DeVonta have a big catch in the Super Bowl and AJ Brown has always been one of the best guys on third down."
.@AllenRobinson has Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams as his number one best wide receiver duo in the NFL next season 👀 pic.twitter.com/po8RpOi6cx — NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 9, 2025
Also read: Eagles Urged to Sign Veteran Wide Receiver Ahead of 2025 Season
The Eagles' duo taking a hit in these rankings likely has to do with the change in offensive philosophy. Upon acquiring Saquon Barkley in free agency, Philly found themselves with an elite backfield threat for the first time in recent memory. This led to them emphasizing the ground game more, especially when the star back was on a historic pace.
With Barkley being a focal point of the offense, the wideouts saw a slight dip in production. However, both still put up strong numbers in the regular season. Brown recorded his third straight 1,000-plus yard season while also coming down with seven touchdowns. As for Smith, he finished the 2024 campaign with 833 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns.
Upon retaining most of their core in the offseason, the Eagles are in a strong position to potentially repeat as champions. Having so many mouths to feed could impact their numbers again, but Brown and Smith still certainly belong in the conversation with the best pairings at their position.
For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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