Eagles Position Battle Preview: Can Makai Lemon Cement Himself as WR2?
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman completely revamped the team’s wide receiver room this offseason. Roseman traded former All-Pro starting wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots as DeVonta Smith will now be elevated to WR1. While Smith is expected to fill Brown’s cleats, Roseman has made several notable additions at wide receiver this offseason.
Following the hiring of first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, Philadelphia is expected to implement principles from both Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan’s offensive schemes. Therefore, the Eagles will likely operate far more from under center and use multiple tight end formations. After years and years of asking Brown and Smith to just win one-on-one by themselves, Mannion’s offense will likely use a more diverse route tree.
Which is exactly why Roseman has made the additions that he has at wide receiver this offseason. Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore are the four new notable faces at the position in the City of Brotherly Love. Yet which one will emerge as WR2 during training camp and preseason action? Here’s a closer look at Philadelphia’s wide receiver battle.
Makai Lemon
Chance of winning the WR2 job: 65%
The Eagles traded up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select wide receiver Makai Lemon for a reason. Many expected Lemon to be selected earlier in the first round, yet Roseman aggressively pursued a meaningful addition at the position. At 5’11” and 192 lbs., Lemon isn’t going to overwhelm defenders with his size. Yet his combination of quickness, route-running and toughness at the catch point makes him a unique weapon.
Lemon seems like the perfect fit for Mannion’s offense, that is expected to bring in the same principles as McVay and Shanahan. Lemon is a dangerous player after the catch that also isn’t afraid to mix things up as a blocker. He actually played some cornerback early in his career at USC, which further proves his toughness. If healthy, Lemon seems like the obvious choice to win Philadelphia’s WR2 job.
Dontayvion Wicks
Chance of winning the WR2 job: 30%
The battle for Philadelphia’s WR2 job seems like mostly a two player race, in my opinion. While Lemon is the favorite, Dontayvion Wicks could certainly make things interesting. Wicks was traded to the Eagles as he joined Mannion and Ryan Mahaffey, who he worked with for multiple seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Therefore, Wicks may have an upper hand on several other players due to his familiarity with Philadelphia’s new-look coaching staff.
Yet Wicks is also an incredibly intriguing player, too. At 6’1”, 206 lbs., Wicks brings the size that not many other players on Philadelphia’s wide receiver depth chart currently possess. He also has an impressive release package that gives him an advantage while running routes. Although he struggled with consistency and drops in Green Bay, he’ll get a chance for a much bigger opportunity with the Eagles. He is also one of the best blocking wide receivers in the NFL. If Wicks doesn’t win the WR2 job, he’ll likely be Philadelphia’s WR3 in 2026.
Hollywood Brown
Chance of winning the WR2 job: 2%
Philadelphia’s first notable addition at wide receiver this offseason was the signing of Hollywood Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million. While Brown is more proven than Lemon, Wicks and the other players in this competition, he’s likely on the decline. At 29-years old, Brown hasn’t recorded 1,000 receiving yards since 2021 and it’s tough to envision him truly pushing for the WR2 job. My guess is that Brown will be fourth in targets at wide receiver behind Smith, Lemon and Wicks.
Johnny Wilson
Chance of winning the WR2 job: 1%
Entering year three in the NFL, Wilson has yet to put it all together. At 6’6” and 228 lbs., Wilson brings unique size and a reliable blocking skillset to the position. Yet he’s coming off a major injury and more competition has been added to Philadelphia’s wide receiver room. Wilson played a bigger role than many anticipated during his rookie season in 2024 and should still make the final 53-man roster. His unique characteristics give him a slight chance to push for a big role again but he’ll likely be relegated to backup duty.
Darius Cooper
Chance of winning the WR2 job: 1%
Following Wilson’s injury last year, undrafted rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper earned a spot on Philadelphia’s final 53-man roster. Now Cooper will have to impress a new-look coaching staff and essentially do it all over again in 2026. The 24-year-old wide receiver drew comparisons to a poor man’s version of former 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel in college, which Mannion could find intriguing. If Cooper can continue to build on a surprising rookie season, he could earn a roster spot and a small role in Mannion’s offense.
Elijah Moore
Chance of winning the WR2 job: 1%
One of Roseman’s more underrated additions of the offseason could be the relatively cheap signing of former second-round pick Elijah Moore. While the 26-year-old is already on his fifth team in the NFL, he has shown flashes along the way. Moore’s unique combination of speed, quickness and experience as a ball carrier (26 career carries in the NFL) could help him win a roster spot in Philadelphia. Yet it’s hard to envision him pushing for anything more than having a niche role with the Eagles.