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PHILADELPHIA – When the Eagles made the move in April to acquire wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, it was a transaction that carried a multi-pronged point of view.

Sure, it reflected the team’s proaction in bolstering the position, bracing themselves for the inevitable A.J. Brown departure. From a big picture perspective, though, the trade to reel in Wicks should also evoke optimism.

In Philadelphia, the former Green Bay Packers wideout reunites with assistants Sean Mannion and Ryan Mahaffey, now entrenched as offensive coordinator and run game coordinator/tight ends coach, respectively, with the Eagles. Both had ample intel on Wicks accrued from their time together, with Mahaffey serving as his position coach for two seasons.

The suggestion here is that Wicks showcased enough promise with the Packers, albeit in a limited capacity, to spark curiosity with regard to production in a more expanded role.

The 25-year-old wideout, meeting with reporters last week for the first time, illustrated an eagerness to kickstart his new opportunity.

“I feel like it’s a different opportunity for me, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said last week. “We’re here now.”

Wicks, who has never eclipsed more than 39 receptions in any of his first three seasons, is positioned to undertake the most prominent role of his young career. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound pass-catcher offers alignment versatility, an appealing perk to be sure, but his frame and skill set place him in a different category, apart from anyone else in the reconfigured room. He uses his frame to his advantage when shielding defenders on short and intermediate throws and majors in separating at the top of routes, but Wicks also represents a bigger target for Jalen Hurts to work in, someone who can theoretically size-up defensive backs and win in contested-catch situations.

While Wicks enters the microscope in Philadelphia, stepping into the spotlight at a recently renovated position, the fourth-year pro opted for a measured outlook when assessing what’s next for him on him in his latest venture.

“I just envision being able to be me, open up, do what I can do,” he said. “And just keep getting better day to day, coming up and showing out for the Eagles.”

Among the benefits of bringing in a reinforcement with Wicks’ background is that he comes in with prior knowledge of how the offense is expected to function, and the receiver’s role in it. His presence should, in theory, aid the acclimation process for teammates throughout the installation process.

In Wicks’ estimation, the learning curve isn’t especially steep or challenging as it pertains to his position. The primary focus, he says, boils down to details, assignments and alignments. Being where you supposed to be when you’re supposed to be. But well-versed as Wicks might be with certain elements, even he isn’t without questions as Mannion and his staff establish the foundation.

“I’m actually questioning [things] myself, because everything ain’t set,” he said. “We’re all still learning the offense and the new ways of doing things here around Philly. I get some questions regarding to what I know. But we’re all still learning. We’re all getting better.”

Wicks will team with sixth-year wide receiver DeVonta Smith, giving the Eagles a pair of receiving options who essentially possess doctorates when it comes to route-running. Wicks credited Smith for being “smooth” in his routes, an intangible Wicks also expressed sharing. Both are equipped at running a wide variety of routes, affecting all three levels and setting up defensive backs.

While there’s a year’s worth of data supporting Smith’s ability to thrive in an elevated role, there’s a bit of calculated projecting involved when it comes to Wicks. He was never a focal point in Green Bay’s offense, serving a complementary role amid a deep Packers receiving corps. Wicks delivered when called upon, sure – and it should be noted that Packers quarterbacks appeared to entrust Wicks in critical moments – but how he’ll handle the uptick in volume will be undetermined until the regular season commences.

There was already a good bit of intrigue surrounding Wicks and his fit in Mannion’s offense, along with a bit of mystique. But whatever outside expectations there may have been for Wicks prior to last Tuesday likely increased following a strong endorsement from Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni. Sirianni, who for two seasons coached wide receivers with the Los Angeles Chargers, holds six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver in high regard, so he isn’t a name he’ll merely toss out for comparison’s sake. When running down the receiver group, Sirianni highlighted Smith and rookie Makai Lemon before eventually getting to Wicks, whom he mentioned has some Allen “to him and to his game.” High praise that perhaps brightens the spotlight a touch more.

Wicks said he hadn’t really talked to Sirianni regarding the comparison, but considered the evaluation of his head coach to be a “great compliment.” That comparison might not follow Wicks over the course of the summer, but a storyline that most certainly will pertains to the role he’s stepping into. Fair or not, Wicks will be tasked with having a heavy hand in replicating some of the production lost in the aftermath of Brown’s departure. It’s worth noting that the team is likely to implement a collective approach when it comes to target share, with Smith leading the way, but Wicks said he hasn’t given much thought to how the Brown trade affects him.

“I don’t really think about that,” he said. “I keep my head down, keep working. Trying to get better at what I know I can be. So, when I come back to camp, I want to be the best that I can be, filling in the void whatever the team asks me to do and step up and play that role. I don’t really think of it in that regard. 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.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.