The Philadelphia Eagles return one of the deepest, and most talented rosters across the NFL, but the defending Super Bowl champions could still make an upgrade before the 2025 season kicks off to lift the offense to new heights.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts returns, after winning Super Bowl LIX MVP, looking to silence his remaining critics and lift a second Lombardi Trophy aloft come February. Despite A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combining to form one of the league’s most explosive receiver duos, the Eagles could look to add another weapon to lift Hurts and the offense to new heights.
Over at ESPN, Aaron Schatz suggests that former Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd could add quality depth and provide competition for meaningful snaps as the Eagles’ No. 3 wide receiver.
“One thing the Eagles could use is more depth at the wide receiver position,” Schatz writes for ESPN. “Particularly a slot receiver who can open underneath and convert third downs. Keenan Allen would fit, but we have him going to the Dolphins, so how about Boyd?
“Boyd had just 39 catches for 390 yards with Tennessee last season, but he was an important part of the Bengals’ offense from 2016 to 2023. Jahan Dotson feels like he’s in a better position to be productive in his second season in the Eagles’ offense, but Boyd would provide a strong backup in case Dotson is not.”
Through his first nine seasons, the 30-year-old Boyd has caught 552 passes for 6,390 yards and 31 touchdowns. Despite shoddily inconsistent quarterback play in Tennessee last season, Boyd, 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds didn’t drop a pass while averaging 5.1 yards after the catch per reception for the Titans.
Boyd would add an element of experience to the Eagles’ receiving corps, and fit seamlessly alongside Brown and Smith, while bringing added Super Bowl and big-game experience to the position from his time with the Bengals.
Why Signing Tyler Boyd Would Make Sense for the Eagles
Adding Boyd at this late stage of the offseason would be a page straight from Eagles general manager Howie Roseman’s playbook.
Last season, it was a preseason trade with the Washington Commanders that landed former first-round pick Jahan Dotson, and, in October, 2023, Roseman and the Eagles inked veteran Julio Jones to a one-year deal in hopes of adding quality depth at receiver.
Boyd likely wouldn’t command anywhere near top of the market money, and would create competition for Dotson for snaps while possibly being an upgrade to a group that has become a focal point of the Eagles’ offense.
If the Eagles aren’t confident that Dotson, 25, offers much more upside than his 19 catches for 216 yards last season, Boyd could be an intriguing name to watch as the summer progresses towards the 2025 season kicking off.
Jalen Hurts Aiming to Build Connection with Jahan Dotson
Whether the Eagles make a move to sign Boyd remains to be seen, but Philadelphia already boasts a crowded receiving room.
Behind Brown, Smith, and Dotson, Terrace Marshall aims to build a strong spring into a breakout campaign of his own.
However, perhaps the biggest benefactor of Brown and Smith not participating in every voluntary OTA practice, could be Dotson and the added reps with Hurts.
“I think that time has been valuable,” Hurts recently told reporters, of the extra practice snaps with Dotson. “It’s been valuable working with Jahan [Dotson], working with Terrace Marshall — he made a lot of big plays this offseason —, Dallas [Goedert], Grant [Calcaterra], Harrison [Bryant]. Everyone — Saquon [Barkley] out there. Everyone who was able to go and available, working with them and taking advantage of that, that was big.
“I think that’s important for developing that chemistry, and we all know the season can go any type of way, and so just making sure you kind of can have a foundation of some sort with everyone is important.”
Dotson was a bit of a late-bloomer in the Eagles’ offense last season, but carved out a niche for himself and place in Hurts’ target hierarchy during the postseason.
The former Penn State standout and first-round pick caught his lone touchdown pass of the season in the Eagles’ NFC Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers, and by the time the confetti swirled after Super Bowl LIX, Dotson had logged three receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.
If Dotson picks up where he left off, he could take on a bigger role in the offense in 2025.
