Philadelphia Eagles draft: Is DeVonta Smith undraftable at 12th selection?

As the roster stands today, the Philadelphia Eagles have a gaping hole at their WR1 position. It’s an issue that the Eagles have had for some time now, but with a top 15 selection, there has been some speculation that the team may look to draft a wide receiver in the first round of back-to-back drafts.

DeVonta Smith has been linked to the Eagles for months now, and why wouldn’t he be? Philadelphia lacks a quality wide receiver, and Smith was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in more than 25 years. It seems to be a match made in heaven.

The issue is that a weight of 166 pounds is not ideal for a wide receiver. Jake Elliott, the Eagles placekicker, weighs 167 pounds. No, that’s not a typo. DeVonta Smith weighs less than the kicker. Yikes.

So, should the Philadelphia Eagles take DeVonta Smith off their board?

The short answer is no. His weight is a reason for concern, but if drafted to the Eagles, the team would certainly get him the proper help to increase his weight. Just look at Marquise Brown as an example of this. The Ravens WR weighed 166 pounds (sound familiar?) at the 2019 NFL Combine, but he now weighs 181 pounds.

There are people in the Philadelphia Eagles organization whose only job is to make sure certain players gain or lose weight. When there’s this much at stake, the organization will get Smith over 175 pounds. Come Week 1, Smith’s weight won’t be this big of an issue.

Critics have also expressed concern over Smith’s durability due to his weight. It’s a fair argument to make, but he never sustained a serious injury during his four-year career at Alabama. Smith had a few small injuries, but he’s a tough player who almost always came back the next week.

The Philadelphia Eagles should consider DeVonta Smith at pick 12.

There are some things you cannot teach, and DeVonta Smith is the embodiment of that maxim. He’s not the fastest or the biggest, but Smith is a tremendous route runner with an impressive feel for the wide receiver position. His release package is arguably the best in this draft class.

The Alabama product is truly one of a kind. Even with his slight frame, he has the potential to be a game-changing receiver from the outside or the slot. While the Eagles may not pull the trigger on Smith at pick 12, they must give him some serious consideration.