The Eagles are expected to trade A.J. Brown to the Patriots, prompting them to seek a new wide receiver in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Philadelphia has already acquired Dontayvion Wicks and Marquise Brown but needs a reliable young talent to complement DeVonta Smith.
Key points
A.J. Brown is expected to be traded to the Patriots.
The Eagles are preparing for a future without Brown.
Philadelphia has acquired Dontayvion Wicks and Marquise Brown.
The Eagles need a young wide receiver to complement DeVonta Smith.
15 wide receiver prospects are being considered for the draft.
Mentioned in this story
A.J. BrownNew England PatriotsDontayvion WicksMarquise BrownDeVonta Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
With A.J. Brown expected to get traded to the Patriots on or before June 1, the Eagles could add another starting-caliber wide receiver in the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft this week.
Philadelphia has already began preparing for a future without Brown this offseason, acquiring starting wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown over the last two months.
Those moves are not enough. Wicks struggles with consistency, and Hollywood Brown’s best days are behind him. The Eagles need to find a young wide receiver who can pair with DeVonta Smith over the next four years and be the other go-to-option in the offense.
Here are 15 wide receiver prospects who could help the Eagles next season:
At 6-0, 196 pounds, Concepcion has elite speed and wins on slants, crossers and deep routes. He gets in and out of his breaks quickly and wins at the top of routes with his crafty release, making it difficult for cornerbacks to cover him.
Concepcion had some bad drops on tape — an area he must clean up to reach his full potential. He’s projected to get selected in the late-first round. He could play in the slot or on the outside opposite of Smith.
Q&A
Who is A.J. Brown being traded to?
A.J. Brown is expected to be traded to the New England Patriots.
What wide receiver prospects could the Eagles target in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Eagles could target 15 wide receiver prospects to help fill the void left by A.J. Brown.
Why do the Eagles need a new wide receiver?
The Eagles need a new wide receiver to pair with DeVonta Smith and to ensure a strong offensive lineup after trading A.J. Brown.
What recent acquisitions have the Eagles made at wide receiver?
The Eagles have recently acquired wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown.
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Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Round projection: 1-2
After the catch, Cooper breaks tackles like a running back.
He also possesses the route-running skills and short-area quickness of a top-tier starting NFL wide receiver. Next season, Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion could move Cooper all over the formation to maximize his skill set.
Boston is a smooth mover at 6-4, 212 pounds and should have no problem creating separation against NFL defensive backs. This past season, he snagged 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns. He would give the Eagles another big wide receiver with Brown potentially gone.
Lemon would complement Smith’s dynamic route running. He has strong hands, making tough catches in traffic while absorbing big hits. He’s also a crafty route runner who consistently gets open over the middle, especially against zone coverage. He is most dangerous after the catch, generating 502 yards in that area this past season. As a rookie, he could become of the best slot wideouts in the NFL.
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Round projection: 2-3
Bernard is one of the safest prospects in the entire 2026 class. He’s not spectacular in any area, but he is good at everything— route running, hands and yards after catch. He is a tall wideout (6-1, 209 pounds) and has decent speed (4.48). Bernard’s average explosiveness could limit him to a possession wide receiver role. He can play in the slot or on the outside.
The Eagles have already acquired that skill set with Wicks and could look to add something different in the draft. Bernard likely won’t rank at the top of their list if that’s the case.
Bell shares some traits with A.J. Brown — similar size (6-2, 220 pounds), physicality and explosiveness — though drawing a direct comparison is unfair.
Bell could have snuck into the first round if he hadn’t suffered a torn ACL in the final month of the 2025 season.
Williams could carve out a role in Philadelphia’s offense as a slot wideout. The undersized pass catcher (5-11½, 187 pounds) uses his dynamic short-area quickness and swift movements to create separation. His strong hands and body control help him pull down tough catches.
Hurst didn’t face much NFL competition in college, which will cause him to drop to Day 2 of the draft. He is one of the best candidates to outplay his draft slot. He’s big (6-4, 206 pounds), fast and explosive. He burns cornerbacks downfield on go-balls and creates extra yards after the catch.
Stribling enters the league with a tremendous ceiling. He possesses great size (6-2, 207 pounds) and speed (4.36 40-yard dash), making him difficult to cover downfield and over the middle.
Branch’s elite speed (4.35 40-yard dash time) was underutilized in Georgia’s offense. He was limited to screens and other underneath passing concepts. The Eagles could maximize his athleticism and playmaking ability by getting him downfield more.
Brazzell joins the list of freaky wide receivers in this draft who have unique upside. The 6-4, 198-pounder is an outstanding vertical target, using his 4.37 speed to burn past cornerbacks.
Lance is one of the most physically gifted wide receivers in this draft— he is 6-3, 204 pounds and ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He tracks the ball well on deep passes. He made a lot of plays against weaker competition, raising the question of whether that will tra nslate in the NFL.
Thompson ran the fastest 40 time (4.26) at the NFL Combine among wide receivers, and it shows on tape when he gets over the top of SEC secondaries. He could be a dangerous deep threat in the NFL.
Fields is an enormous pass catcher (6-4½, 218 pounds) who snags 50/50 balls and high-points difficult catches over defensive backs. His underwhelming speed (4.61 40-yard dash) and inability to create consistent separation could hold him back.
