Billy McMullen wasn't going to make this team. That much, the Eagles coaching staff determined, was clear after evaluating the just-completed mini-camp.

So things happen in the NFL. People talk. Teams toss around names.

And one came up that interested the Eagles greatly: Wide receiver Hank Baskett, a player whom they had rated highly in the draft, and a player who had signed with Minnesota when he was selected in the seven rounds.

So on Thursday, the Eagles made one of those rare player-for-player deals. They moved McMullen and received Baskett in return, so now we can step back and evaluate the ever-changing personnel at the most-scrutinized group on this team.

Reggie Brown is at the top of the class of this changing WR picture

Baskett is a big, tall receiver who had a tremendous career at New Mexico. That he was not drafted in April was one of the big surprises; drafniks had him rated as a mid-round talent.

These things happen. Players get red-flagged for past injuries or for a poor time in the 40-yard dash or whatever. Baskett, then, signed with the Vikings and prepared to make a roster run there.

Instead, he'll make a roster run here with an Eagles wide receiver corps that has changed so much in the last couple of years. Reggie Brown is a second-year player. Jabar Gaffney is a first-year Eagle. Darnerien McCants is in his first full year with the team. Two players are rookie draft picks -- Jason Avant and Jeremy Bloom.

The "old" guys are Todd Pinkston and Greg Lewis, and neither of them qualifies as over the hill at all.

It is an interesting group, a young group, a promising group. To take a guess at who makes this roster is to throw darts: Certainly, Brown and Gaffney are in -- both started in the post-draft camp -- and Lewis and Pinkston would seem to be strong candidates to be here.

But after that? Your guess is as good as mine. McCants impressed on special teams last year and stands to benefit greatly by being here for a full off-season to learn the nuances of this offense. Avant and Bloom are very highly-rated players here. Justin Jenkins is returning from a knee injury and figures to be in the mix. Baskett had a high draft grade from the Eagles' scouting department.

So ...

So if the Eagles keep five receivers, then you're looking at one player from that above group -- McCants, Avant, Bloom, Jenkins and Baskett -- to make this team, assuming that all four of the relative "locks" make it through the preseason unscathed. If the Eagles keep six wide receivers, then you figure that two of the above-mentioned group makes the team.

In any event, some good players are going to be waived. The competition is going to be excellent. The practice squad will include some real receiving prospects.

But what about the every-week crew of receivers? Did you expect McMullen to be in that group? Well, he had his shot last year and caught 18 passes in the final couple of months of the season, but the Eagles didn't see the consistency they wanted to see. So, McMullen was dealt on Thursday in a deal that will play itself out over the next few months and, even, years.

This much is true: The wide receiver group is continuing to change. Brown and Gaffney headline the position now, but that is certainly subject to change.