Dontayvion "Tay" Wicks has always been a player you could rely on.
On September 30, 2021, the University of Virginia played away at ACC rivals Miami. Facing a second-and-17 in the third quarter, the Virginia offense needed to extend its lead if it had any chance of pulling off the upset. Targeting Wicks, quarterback Brennan Armstrong seemingly made an ill-advised throw towards the end zone that ended up in a Miami defensive back's gloves.
Only for a second.
The defender lost the ball on the way to the ground while Wicks had already hit the grass himself. But, the play is not over until the whistle blows. The ball landed on Wicks' back and popped up into the air as the Virginia receiver rolled over. Sitting down, Wicks plucked the ball out of the air with one hand for a touchdown. A true circus catch only possible because of Wicks' continued focus.
Most other receivers and the ball would have ended up on the turf.
So, it's no wonder that when the Eagles hired Packers Wide Receivers Coach Ryan Mahaffey and Quarterbacks Coach Sean Mannion to the coaching staff this offseason, the team quickly made a move to bring along the 6-foot-1 receiver to Philadelphia from Green Bay.
"Me and Sean built a relationship just like Coach Mahaffey," Wicks said about their time with the Packers. "Relationships play a big part in things, so I felt like that was a big part of the reason why, you know, the trust for me to be here and for them to bank on me."
After spending his first three seasons in Green Bay, the Eagles traded for Wicks this April, sending a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for the talented wideout.
"It's always interesting, you know, trade news. But, I feel like it's a different opportunity for me, and I'm looking forward to it," Wicks said of the trade.
The Eagles showed their trust even more in the fourth-year receiver by signing him to a two-year contract once the trade was complete.
"I just want to say I'm blessed to be able to be in this position," Wicks said about the new contract. "It just showed me the value and love that Philly has for me and I want to come out and show what I'm worth."
A fifth-round pick by Green Bay in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Virginia, Wicks made an instant impact his rookie campaign, racking up 581 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the regular season. He played a big role in the Packers' blow-out victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round that year, catching a 20-yard touchdown against defensive back Stephon Gilmore to extend the Packers' lead.
The former Cavalier has already earned high praise from coaches and teammates alike this offseason. Head Coach Nick Sirianni likened Wicks' play to Keenan Allen, specifically in his route running and release ability. All-Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell said that the former Packer gave him a lot of trouble whenever they lined up against each other and that Wicks is one of the most underrated players he has ever played against.
"Coming from a guy like that, Quinyon, I feel like he's a dog. He's helped me get better," Wicks said of the compliment. "Now that I'm here with him, going against (him) every day, it's iron (sharpens) iron."
Wicks has also had success against fellow offseason addition Riq Woolen so far, getting separation to score a touchdown on the Pro Bowl corner during OTAs. Wicks believed the competition during offseason practices has made him a better receiver.
"It's fun going against a guy like Riq because now you don't know what's coming." Wicks said when asked about having to be physical against larger corners. "Going against a guy like Riq that's long, he'll grab, so you got to be physical, and getting out because refs ain't calling every play."
It's no surprise Wicks gives opposing cornerbacks trouble. The receiver has always been confident in his route running ability, and others can see it too.
"You see his skill set. He is a physical, explosive player at the top of routes. He can play inside or out, so he is a guy we had our eye on," Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman said of Wicks after the trade.
"He's able to separate at the top of the route, and I think his toughness really shows up on tape," Sirianni concurred. "Again, when you can create that type of separation, we obviously get really excited about that, really excited to add him to that room."
Wicks believes being in the same wide receiver room as DeVonta Smith is the "best thing" for him, learning as much as he can behind the veteran. Wicks also knows that the combination of him and Smith has the potential to be dangerous against opposing defenses.
"Smitty, he from Louisiana. I'm from Louisiana. Growing up, I knew about Smitty. And me and Smitty talked before I got here. Being here with him, it's a great guy to look up to," Wicks said.
"His route running is very smooth, real smooth in his routes. And I feel that same way about myself," Wicks said.
Familiarity with Mannion as the new offensive coordinator can explain why the Eagles are so confident in Wicks' role this year; but like everyone else, Wicks is still adjusting to the new offense.
"We're all still learning the offense and the new ways of doing things here around Philly. I get some questions going into what I know, but we are all still learning. We are all getting better," Wicks said about getting questions from teammates about Mannion's tendencies. "It's not hard. It's just details."
It's a fresh start for Wicks, but he is still focused on keeping his head down, "getting better every day," and building chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts.
"I want to be the best I can be, fill in the void. Whatever the team asks me to do, step up and play that role," Wicks said. "I just think of it as capitalizing on my opportunity that's given to me. We never know what happens throughout the season. Just taking it day by day and keep on working to be the best." - Written by Caroline Connor
