One of my favorite offseason activities is to revisit my post-draft notes on the Eagles’ rookies and see how they performed on the field. It’s an enjoyable mix of film analysis, personal reflection, and assessing how well specific traits translate to the NFL. Instead of writing complete scouting reports, as I did after the draft, this series will focus on evaluating each player’s rookie season. Did they meet expectations? Were there any surprises? What do I foresee for their future? At the end of each article, I’ll provide my revised outlook for that player.
Previously: Quinyon Mitchell / Cooper DeJean / Jalyx Hunt / Will Shipley
Johnny Wilson
As with previous articles, we will begin with my observations post-draft regarding Johnny Wilson.
Summary: Wilson is one of the largest wide receivers, creating significant mismatches. However, he needs to refine his catching technique to excel against defenders.
Eagles Thoughts: It would certainly be exciting! Hurts has an excellent deep ball, and I favor a team with diverse mismatches. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t consider him until rounds 3 or 4.
I was genuinely surprised Wilson slipped to the 5th round. Although I typically do not favor receivers like him, I believe he has potential. Still, he has two major issues that could impact his success.
1. He struggles at the catch point.
2. He lacks separation ability.
If he improves in either area, a successful career is feasible, but he’ll struggle without progress. NFL receivers must either excel at contested catches or create separation. If he enhances both aspects, his size and agility could translate into a strong career.
While valuable as a blocker, I prefer to keep him at wide receiver rather than converting him to tight end; that transition rarely works since defenses do not perceive big receivers as tight ends. The essence of using 12 personnel is to have tight ends who can block and run precise routes, forcing defenses to adapt their formations. Big receivers don’t block effectively enough to justify such a switch. I want him to remain a receiver. With DeVante Parker’s retirement, a backup X position is available for Wilson if he trains well.
Expected Performance
Johnny Wilson’s rookie season played out almost precisely as I envisioned. In my pre-draft notes, I noted:
“Wilson is a massive WR, creating unmatched mismatches, but he needs to improve his catching technique.”
He appeared formidable on the field. However, I highlighted two pivotal challenges affecting his success:
“He doesn’t dominate at the catch point. He doesn’t separate well.”
Additionally, I questioned whether his skill set could adapt to today’s NFL:
“I’m not a fan of receivers like Wilson, who remind me of Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess, who both underachieved.”
Big receivers face challenges due to insufficient deep speed. Wilson lacks the acceleration necessary for separation, leading him to frequently contend in tight situations. This pattern was evident throughout the year.
Unexpected Aspects
Little about Wilson’s rookie campaign caught me off guard; he performed as anticipated. His size presents a theoretical advantage, yet he failed to consistently overpower smaller defenders during contested catches. Improvement in this area is essential, with training camp reports indicating ongoing difficulties.
Remaining Questions
- Can Wilson develop the necessary technique to win more contested catches?
- Without speed, can he find ways to separate, or will he only serve as a blocking and red-zone option?
- Is he guaranteed a spot on the 2025 roster?
Looking Ahead
Johnny Wilson’s rookie performance was in line with my expectations. Although his size and blocking ability were assets, his receiving contribution was minimal. Without speed or the skill to separate, his chances of becoming a dependable NFL receiver are slim. If he cannot excel in contested scenarios, he risks becoming another “big receiver” who fails to materialize beyond potential.
Moving forward, I envision him as a big slot receiver rather than playing outside. He had more snaps outside, but needs to shift to a position where he can leverage his size against smaller defenders. This could open up opportunities in the red zone and for short routes. If the Eagles focus on developing him in the slot, he might find a niche. However, if forced into matchups outside, I doubt he will secure a solid place on the team.
Thank you for reading! I welcome your thoughts, so feel free to comment below. If you enjoyed this article, you can find more of my work and my podcast here.
