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."