NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles have a trio of players who go unmentioned when the game’s best are talked about. Name another team in the league that can go toe-to-toe with the likes of DeVonta Smith, AJ Brown, and Dallas Goedert. These three players will become household names this season, or maybe they will continue to fly under the radar.
In 2022, Brown caught 88 passes for 1496 yards and 11 TDs. On the opposite side of him was Smith who snagged 95 passes for 1196 yards and 7 TDs. And not to be forgotten was TE Goedert who hauled in 55 passes for 702 yards and 3 TD in 12 games. This production not only helped the Eagles showcase one of the best passing attacks in the league, but it also helped earn Jalen Hurts a huge contract and helped the Eagles make the Super Bowl.
While the microscope has been on the Cincinnati Bengals and their trio of JaMarr Chase, Tyler Boyd, and Tee Higgins, their production at TE keeps them in a different ranking. While still productive, the Eagles can look to any of these three for more than one aspect of success.
Who Makes The Philadelphia Eagles Trio
Having one of the best-rushing offenses in the NFL does not fall solely on the RB and the offensive line. The pass-catching trio of the Eagles are also great run blockers. They sacrifice numbers for the betterment of the team despite what each can do in the open field and in traffic.
This season, there are no real expectations for them to surpass what they accomplished last season. The offense of the Philadelphia Eagles does not rely on huge numbers from anyone to be successful. The Kansas City Chiefs need Travis Kelce to outperform every other TE. The Minnesota Vikings need Justin Jefferson to be the best receiver in the NFL.
The Philadelphia Eagles have top-level weapons that allowed them to hurt you in many ways. You can’t double Brown without being aware of what Smith can do. You can’t leave the middle of the fried open for fear of what Goedert will do. And if all that does succeed, how can a defense account for one of the best rushing attacks in the league led by their QB and possibly a 3-headed monster that includes Kenneth Gainwell, DeAndre Swift, and Rashaad Penny?
For most, it’s about the WRs. Not every team in the league can rely on their TE for much production. That’s what sets teams like the Chiefs, 49ers, and Eagles apart from the others. While each of those teams has valuable weapons at the receiver position, Goedert paired with Smith and Brown is one of, if not the best. The Philadelphia Eagles do not have that 3rd reliable receiver. Goedert is like Kelce and George Kittles but neither of those other teams can say they have the same skill set at WR that the Eagles have to pair with their TE. It’s either a team as a good WR and TE but rarely do you see it all come together.
If 2022 was any indication, then 2023 is the season where this trio for the Philadelphia Eagles becomes household names.
