The Philadelphia Eagles held their first voluntary team activities of the 2025 offseason this week, and No. 5 wide receiver figures to be among Philly’s most intriguing roster battles as the summer heats up.
With Philly’s top four of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson firmly established coming off of last year’s Super Bowl run, the fifth spot could boil down to new addition Terrace Marshall Jr., 2024 fifth-rounder Ainias Smith, and return specialist Avery Williams.
Josh Davis of the Philly Special Show recently revealed his surprise cut candidates for the Eagles entering OTAs, and he currently has Williams making the initial 53-man roster over both Ainias Smith and Marshall.
“I’d expect the Swiss Army Knife aspect of Williams’ game to only increase as the season goes along,” Davis said.
Marshall will be an intriguing roster prospect this summer, as the team just signed the former LSU star to a one-year deal in April. Still just 24 years old, there’s clear upside for the big-bodied receiver who hauled in 23 combined touchdown receptions over his final two years at LSU, including a whirlwind ride to the 2019 national championship with Joe Burrow at quarterback.
Marshall has struggled throughout his pro career, however, due in part to ugly quarterback situations both with the Carolina Panthers and last year with the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Jalen Hurts will be, by far, the best quarterback Marshall has worked with since college, but Davis’ point is a fair one. Wilson was often confused on national broadcasts as a tight end last season, as he carved out a key role as a perimeter blocker during Saquon Barkley’s historic rushing season. Dotson was hardly a prominent force for the Eagles in the WR3 spot, but his role grew throughout the season and he showed a fine connection with Hurts during last year’s playoff run. While the team declined Dotson’s fifth-year option, his role is secure entering 2025.
It’s highly unlikely that Philly will carry six wide receivers on roster cut-down day, so Marshall’s main competition will be Williams, who’s expected to fill more of a special teams role this year as a kick return specialist. The Eagles carried Britain Covey as a wide receiver in a similar role in recent seasons, so unless he has a monster training camp, Marshall figures to be on the outside looking in come Aug. 27.
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