Do Eagles Have Best Pass-Catching Corps in NFL?
If A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith aren't the best one-two punch at receiver in the NFL, they're pretty close. But where does the Philadelphia Eagles group of pass catchers as a whole rank among the league's very best? A new countdown attempted to quantify that.
The Ringer recently ranked the best pass catching units in the NFL, which includes receivers, tight ends and running backs who make an impact hauling in passes out of the backfield. The Eagles checked in at No. 2 on the countdown.
"From Weeks 13 to 18 last year, Brown led all wide receivers in receiving yards (665). Right behind him in second place was … Smith (587)," The Ringer wrote. "Tight end Dallas Goedert has deadly efficiency in the screen game and ranked third in yards per route run and first in yards after the catch per reception among the 45 tight ends who ran at least 200 routes last year. Running back D'Andre Swift, acquired for peanuts during the draft, is one of the league’s best receiving backs and should flourish here if he can stay healthy."
Both Brown (1,496) and Smith (1,196) set new career-high marks in receiving yards last season, and it's entirely possible we haven't seen the best of either one yet. Brown had 88 catches and 11 touchdowns in his first season playing with Jalen Hurts, so there may be more meat on the bone there. Meanwhile, Smith flourished in his second NFL season, and Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay recently predicted that the former Heisman Trophy winner will one day be seen as the best wideout in the sport.
Meanwhile, Goedert had 702 receiving yards in just 12 games in 2022, and Smith had over 1,100 receiving yards in three seasons with the Detroit Lions. As is, this is a tremendous group of pass catchers. Imagine what it will look like if Quez Watkins or another receiver takes a step forward this season.
The only group of pass catchers that topped the Eagles was that of the Cincinnati Bengals. Considering quarterback Joe Burrow has the receiver trio of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd at his disposal, it's hard to argue with the Bengals edging out the Eagles.
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