PHILADELPHIA — It’s easy to forget sometimes that Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is one of the most talented players at his position in the NFL.
For the past four years, most of the attention and praise have gone to Smith’s teammate, three-time All-Pro A.J. Brown.
Five years into his career, Smith has yet to make a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team, constantly getting overlooked in the league’s wide receiver hierarchy.
In last Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings, Smith reminded everyone he’s more than Brown’s sidekick — more than a Robin to his Batman.
Smith snagged a career-high nine catches for 183 yards, including a game-changing, 79-yard touchdown with 8:07 remaining in the third quarter.
“This is definitely the best he’s ever been,” said Eagles practice squad wide receiver Britain Covey, who has been Smith’s teammate since 2022. “It’s funny, it’s always that conversation, a one versus a two, right? He is a number one (receiver). Here’s the thing: we’ve got two ones on our team. That’s the reality of it. So if he was somewhere where there wasn’t another one, he would be easily ranked in the top 10 receivers in the league. And some people still even rank him there. I definitely do.”
Despite the Eagles’ passing game struggling through seven weeks, Smith ranks ninth among NFL receivers in yards (504). At this pace, he’s on track to break his career high of 1,196 yards, set in 2022.
It’s concerning that Philadelphia ranks 22nd in passing this season, but Smith could get the offense back in the right direction for the second consecutive week in the team’s Week 8 matchup versus the New York Giants on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Smith will likely see more targets this week with Brown sidelined by a hamstring injury. A dominant showing against New York’s secondary could earn him more respect across the league.
“I think a little bit of (Smith’s recent success) is about opportunities,” Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo said Tuesday. “He’s had a lot of opportunities, and he has made the most of them. He’s a dynamic player, right? He’s a Heisman Trophy winner. He is one of the best players in the league still, obviously. We’re going to use him in any capacity we can, and his energy is just infectious at all times. What he brings to the table is ... high football IQ, he gets the game, he gets moved around a lot, he understands what his job is in moments. He makes those plays and he’s been a clutch player for us, and it’s really been fun to watch him.”
In his first month with the Eagles, wide receiver Xavier Gipson has tried to emulate Smith’s dedication.
“I have been around a lot of people that work hard, but he’s consistently doing everything,” Gipson said Wednesday. “I see him catching jugs in between rest periods, in between periods he’s not on (the field). And I’m like, ‘Damn, this dude is a workaholic’. And it shows with the consistent catches he’s making.”
Gipson said everybody feeds off Smith’s “magnet energy.” Patullo did, too.
“No, I mean, for his size (6-0, 170 pounds), as much as he gets hit and bounces right up and keeps it going, I think that’s part of his energy,” Patullo said when asked if he’s ever seen a guy that size who’s that tough. “Everybody feeds off that because people probably think he can’t do that, but he does every time and he’s consistent. He’s an extremely, extremely tough person mentally and physically. It’s awesome.”
Many of Smith’s pre-draft critics were concerned about his size, but it never became an issue. As one of the skinniest receivers in the league, Smith routinely catches passes over the middle of the field and absorbs big hits.
“It’s a lot of big dudes that can’t do what he does,” Gipson said. “But he got the drive and the mindset. It’s just me watching because I’m a small guy myself. But he got the heart, man. The heart of a lion, for real.”
Smith’s toughness is one of his many great attributes.
“He’s like Spider-Man,” Eagles tight end Kylen Granson said. “You see the ball going his way, you know he’s gonna come up with a catch nine times out of 10. Those catches he had last game were really impressive.”
“If you want a receiver, you go get DeVonta Smith,” Eagles rookie wideout Darius Cooper said. “He explodes in and out of his brakes. No false movements, no false steps. He’s just a very smooth route runner.”
During halftime of the Vikings game, Smith suggested the Eagles open the third quarter with a deep shot. He had noticed Minnesota’s frequent cover-zero looks that left him isolated on a cornerback.
Patullo called the play and watched as his star wide receiver burned past Vikings CB Isaiah Rodgers for the longest touchdown of his career (79 yards).
“I would say just overall, just still studying the game,” Smith said about his biggest area of growth this season. “You can always get better in that area. Just constantly studying the game.”
Smith aspires to earn more accolades and recognition, though he remains focused on the team’s goals.
“What’s cool about Smitty is he’s the most humble, hard working, all about business kind of guy,” Covey said. “Whether or not he is in that (No. 1 receiver) role, it’s not going to change him at all. That’s what’s cool about it. And every team needs a guy like that, especially as a receiver.”
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