Top 5 Eagles Wide Receivers of All-Time

There is no question that both the organization and the fans of the Philadelphia Eagles are craving a young, explosive wide receiver.

With this hunger comes the many memories of playmakers who have suited up for the birds, both old and new alike.

The next young receiver that comes to Philadelphia will be walking in on a team that has a long history of great wide receivers.

Whether they were fast, big, small, had great hands or any other combination, the Eagles have had dynamic players on the outside who could make plays and help the team win games.

5) Terrell Owens

The only reason why Owens is not higher is the fact that he played only one full season with the team.

Was he a pain to deal with in the locker room? Yes. Was he a headcase? Yes. Did he help the team win football games? Yes.

It is no lie that Owens was one of, if not the main reason for why the Eagles got over the hump in 2004 to make the Super Bowl. In that 2004 season, Owens had 77 receptions, 1200 yards and 14 touchdowns before breaking his leg late in the season. He would come out and show his dominance in the Super Bowl, hauling in nine receptions for 122 yards. 

There is no doubt that saying the name, “Terrell Owens” will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of any Eagles fan for what could have been. However, let’s not act like what he did in his short time was nothing less than extraordinary.

4) Mike Quick

The former 1982 first-round selection and now a current color commentator for the Eagles radio broadcast is one of the most well-known names that has ever played in Philadelphia.

In Quick’s eight years with the team, he totaled 6,464 receiving yards and 61 touchdowns. This puts him third all-time among Eagles wide receivers in both categories. Quick’s career-high in yardage in a single season came in 1983, where he put up 1,409 yards on the season.

In his prime, Quick was a dominant force for the Eagles passing game, but towards the end of his career with the Eagles, Quick faded out. In his final three seasons from 1988-1990, Quick would combine for under 1,000 yards and put up a combined seven touchdowns.

Even to this day, Quick is seen as an Eagles legend and a player who is still actively engaged with his former team.

3) DeSean Jackson

DeSean Jackson was and still is the type of playmaker that makes Eagles fans smile whenever the thought of his play comes to mind.

It was clear after being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2008 NFL draft that Jackson would truly be special. In his rookie year, Jackson totaled for 912 receiving yards and would follow up in 2009 and 2010 with back to back 1,000-yard seasons. In 2013, Jackson put up a career-high in yards with 1,332 and tied his career-high for touchdowns with nine.

Along with Jackson’s big-play ability in the passing game he was used in various other ways. Jackson returned punts early on in his career and had an impact on those games. The most well known being the Miracle at the Meadowlands walk-off punt return to lock up the NFC East.

In all-time stats, Jackson is fourth in yards with 6,276 yards and ninth in touchdowns with 34. The return to Philadelphia in 2019 is one that many Eagles fans were pleased with and regardless of the ending, it will be a sight to see Jackson retire as an Eagle.

2) Tommy McDonald

McDonald was drafted in the third round of the 1957 Draft and proved to be a stand out the selection. 

The era of football was a bit different back in the late ’50s and ’60s, but it is clear McDonald’s presence was still felt. McDonald’s 66 career touchdowns with the Eagles is second all-time in Eagles history and his 5,499 yards is ninth all-time.

McDonald is also the only wide receiver on this list to help the Eagles win a championship, as he was a part of the 1960 NFL Championship winning team. That year McDonald had pulled in 13 touchdowns and was a driving force to get the Eagles to championship glory.

1) Harold Carmichael

Photo: AP

This 6’8”, the 225-pound wide receiver was drafted in the 7th round of the 1971 NFL draft. To say a lot of teams whiffed on him is an understatement.

Carmichael would go on to have an outstanding 12-year career with the Eagles hauling in a total of 8,978 yards and 79 touchdowns over that span. These numbers lead the Eagles all-time in both receiving yards and touchdowns.

His big frame made him a nightmare to handle for secondaries and he was a reliable piece on the Eagles offense. 

Carmichael was a part of the 1980 team that got the Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl. He performed well against Oakland, putting up five catches for 83 yards, but the team was not able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Carmichael was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His induction cements his legacy as the greatest Eagles receiver of all-time.

Featured Image: AP Images