In recent weeks, the Philadelphia Eagles have reduced their wide receiver lineup, placing Britain Covey on injured reserve and keeping fifth-round rookie Ainias Smith on the sidelines. Coach Kellen Moore is utilizing A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, and Johnny Wilson on game days, although only Brown and Smith are seeing significant targets, with Dotson and Wilson combined for just 32 targets this season.
With tight end Dallas Goedert facing another injury-riddled year, the Eagles will likely seek a dependable third option in the passing game during the offseason.
Matt Holder from Bleacher Report forecasts that general manager Howie Roseman will address this need by signing six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen from the Chicago Bears in free agency. According to Holder, Philadelphia has been looking for a third wide receiver to complement Brown and Smith for a few years with little success, and may consider signing a veteran receiver willing to pursue a championship rather than focusing solely on monetary gains. Allen, who has made the playoffs only three times and has never won a playoff game in his 12-year career, could fit this mold. Despite a challenging year with a struggling Bears offense, he has still managed six touchdowns, one year after posting 1,200 receiving yards.
Allen is in the final year of a four-year, $80.1 million contract he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. He was supposed to be part of a strong trio with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze in Chicago, but the Bears have faced difficulties protecting rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and are enduring yet another disappointing season. Although his performance has dipped, Allen’s 67 receptions and seven touchdowns indicate he remains a capable possession receiver. He has also played more snaps in the slot (304) than outside (258) this season, making him a potentially good fit for Philadelphia’s WR3 position.
With Saquon Barkley entrenched in the offense and the Eagles running the league’s most run-heavy scheme, the likelihood of Allen joining the team could be diminished. Roseman may not prioritize the wide receiver position, especially with several key players such as RG Mekhi Becton, LB Zack Baun, EDGE Josh Sweat, and DT Milton Williams under expiring contracts. After recently extending both DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, it seems doubtful they’d want to invest heavily in another receiver in 2025.
Overall, it seems more probable that the Eagles will draft a talented tight end or target another mid-round wide receiver, rather than pursuing a high-priced free agent like Allen, despite the excitement that such an addition might generate.
