Looking at recent history, it’s hard to find a draft bust for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles won the Super Bowl last season and 14 homegrown players started in that game. While Howie Roseman has the success rate of a gambler counting cards at a blackjack table, there are also a few players who slip through the cracks.
One of the areas the Eagles have struggled is at receiver. Philadelphia selected DeVonta Smith in the first round of the 2021 draft but A.J. Brown was a trade acquisition from the Tennessee Titans. The rest of the depth chart has been filled with random fliers and failed trades but a battle of two draft picks could be decided after the team held its annual rookie minicamp this weekend.
Eagles Draft Bust Ainias Smith Could Be on Chopping Block Following Rookie Minicamp
The 2024 draft saw the Eagles draft a pair of receivers. Ainias Smith was drafted in the fifth round out of Texas A&M and Johnny Wilson was taken in the sixth round out of Florida State. While both players were in developmental roles to begin the year, neither got the playing time to show they can be a long-term contributor moving forward.
Wilson’s rookie season didn’t have a lot of production as he played just 178 total snaps. The playing time didn’t turn into a monster statline as he caught five passes for 38 yards and a touchdown but he was able to salvage the year by posting an 80.7 grade on 128 special teams snaps. While it’s not a large sample size, it’s enough to show he can play a role if called upon, which was more than what Smith showed in his rookie year.
Smith got off on the wrong foot when he was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury at the end of training camp. The Eagles activated Smith in October, but he couldn’t find his way onto the field with 96 offensive snaps. With no special teams experience, Smith could be the odd man out in a receiving group that has plenty of options entering the offseason program.
The Eagles traded for Jahan Dotson before the start of last season but he’s also on the roster bubble after an underwhelming season. Philadelphia signed Terrace Marshall Jr. before the draft, but it’s possible he never plays a snap for the team after an underwhelming career with the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders.
Danny Gray, Elijah Cooks and Taylor Morin are also in the mix but it's possible that Smith could be part of the cuts if he doesn’t impress in camp. If someone steps up, it could become harder for Smith to make the team, giving the Eagles another issue when sorting out their receiver group.