There’s no telling what the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver room is going to look like in 2026 until we know what the team plans to do with 3-time NFL All-Pro A.J. Brown.
Trade him, keep him, put him on a JetBlue into outer space … whatever. Decisions need to be made.
What the Eagles will likely start to do, whether Brown comes back or not, is start to make a long-term plan for the future at the position. That work begins with the 2026 NFL draft, where The Athletic predicts the Eagles will take UConn wide receiver Skyler Bell in the 3rd round (No. 68 overall) in its first post-Super Bowl mock draft.
“Skyler Bell is a small-school wide receiver with a skill set that translates smoothly to the NFL as a slot or movement/motion Z receiver,” Bleacher Report’s Damian Parson wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “He offers alignment versatility, mismatch creation, and yards after the catch. Against Power-4 competition, he proved he belonged on the same playing field.”
Bell Transferred From Big Ten Program to UConn
Bell, 6-foot and 190 pounds, had 69 receptions for 755 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2 seasons at Wisconsin before transferring to UConn.
In 2025, Bell had a breakout season and was named a Unanimous All-American after racking up 101 receptions for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games. In 2 seasons with the Huskies, Bell had 151 receptions for 2,138 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Philly’s Miserable Recent History of Drafting WRs
Philadelphia struck out drafting a pair of wide receivers in 2024 with Anais Smith and Johnny Wilson — a duo that has combined for a whopping 79 yards and 2 touchdowns through their first 2 seasons.
While drafting DeVonta Smith in the first round (N0. 10 overall) of the 2021 NFL draft turned out well, it was only made necessary by the most glaring sin of the recent era of Eagles’ drafts. That sin was taking TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor in the 1st round (No. 21 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft — one spot ahead of perennial All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson to the Minnesota Vikings.
Reagor had just 64 receptions for 695 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2 seasons with the Eagles before he was traded to the Vikings.
While the pick of Reagor over Jefferson grabs all the headlines, it’s even worse than that — there were 2 more NFL All-Pro picks in the 1st round with San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (No. 25 overall) and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen (No. 28 overall).
Brown Seems Headed Out of Phliladelphia
After 4 seasons, 3 NFL All-Pro selections, 1 Super Bowl win and signing a 3-year, $96 million contract extension before the 2024 season, Brown seems like he’s effectively pouted his way out of Philadelphia.
Habitually discontented over a perceived lack of touches and frustration with how the offense works, Brown seems like a trade will end his time with the Eagles this offseason.
Still, Brown doesn’t seem like he’s necessarily turned the page yet.
“That’s home,” Brown said on The Edge With Micah Parsons podcast. “When I got to Philly, Philly welcomed me with open arms. That’s home, man, and I love them. I love the support. I love the accountability. I love everything else that they do. Philly is Philly. You have to be there to understand.”
Draft Prediction Brings Eagles 1,200-Yard, 13-TD Wide Receiver