The Philadelphia Eagles received significant praise for acquiring wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers on Friday.
But ESPN’s Seth Walder and Ben Solak liked yet didn’t absolutely love the deal from Philadelphia’s perspective. In their trade grades, the Packers earned a higher mark (an A) while the Eagles settled for a B-plus.
“Wicks was given a one-year, $12.5 million extension (presumably with some void years attached). In a two-year period, Wicks makes just over $15 million. That financial commitment does not guarantee him a big role. But Wicks might be capable of stepping into bigger shoes, should Brown depart,” wrote Solak. “Inconsistent hands prevented him from breaking through in a dense rotation in Green Bay, but when injuries struck, he took to an expanded role well.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, along with other insiders, reported the Eagles acquired Wicks from the Packers for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder.
The Eagles then agreed to a 1-year, $12.5 million extension with Wicks right after the trade.
Eagles Receive Praise for Dontayvion Wicks Trade
GettyESPN’s Seth Walder and Ben Solak graded the Philadelphia Eagles acquiring wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers.
How someone reacts to ESPN’s grades on the Eagles trade of Wicks could depend on their perspective on grades. A B-plus is a very solid mark, particularly when general manager Howie Roseman is trying to walk a very fine line this offseason.
He’s trying to upgrade the team’s receiver room in case the Eagles trade A.J. Brown. But he can’t add a direct Brown replacement without placing himself into a scenario where he has to deal the WR1 before the season.
“Eagles GM Howie Roseman is doing as good a job of straddling the line of a potential A.J. Brown trade as could be expected. In sending Day 3 picks for Wicks, Roseman has acquired a player who has been a depth WR and would provide occasional shot-play value behind Brown and DeVonta Smith,” wrote Solak.
“Wicks alone does not insulate the Eagles from losing Brown. But adding Wicks to Hollywood Brown and a likely middle-round pick for the position gives them enough contributors to fill Brown’s role in the aggregate. Roseman is doing well to prepare for the loss of Brown without building the receiver room so aggressively that he loses all leverage in trade talks, once they resume after June 1.”
Why Eagles Are Potentially Waiting to Trade A.J. Brown?
GettyThe Philadelphia Eagles appear to be preparing to trade A.J. Brown this offseason.
After the Eagles didn’t deal Brown during the early part of NFL free agency, it became clear the team might delay any trade. That’s because of the massive difference in salary cap ramifications depending on if the Eagles trade Brown before or after June 1.
Should Philadelphia deal Brown before June 1, the team will accept a $43.44 million dead cap hit according to Over the Cap. That drops to $16.35 million if the Eagles trade him after June 1.
That’s a savings of about $27 million.
Waiting for that salary cap advantage, though, the Eagles run the risk of either trading Brown after all potential replacements are already gone. Or, they could add a Brown replacement and signal to other NFL teams that they have to trade him.
That lowers Brown’s trade price for Philadelphia.
Wicks and the other receivers the Eagles have added this offseason could work as either complementary or replacements weapons for Brown.
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