2025 was a massive disappointment for Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith Jr., coming off the best season of his career in 2024.
Smith went from racking up 6.5 sacks in 16 games during the 2024 campaign to just three sacks in 12 games last year. An injury caused Smith to go on IR, but once he returned with Jaelan Phillips' arrival, Smith played well late in the season to show his potential again.
This offseason, the Eagles placed a massive bet on Smith by picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract that will pay him over $13 million in 2027. That shows the franchise has high hopes for him, but will it mean a career season is coming?
One NFL writer has a bold 2026 prediction regarding Nolan Smith
Bleacher Report writer Gary Davenport looked at six players with rookie contracts who have the best chance of having breakout 2026 seasons, with Smith being one of them who was selected. Davenport thinks this season for Smith will be different from his first three years in the NFL.
"After an injury-marred 2025 season in which Smith was out-performed by Jalyx Hunt, there are questions about Smith's role with the team this year, especially after the Eagles acquired Jonathan Greenard in a draft-day trade.
The snaps are going to be there for Smith, Greenard or no—Greenard had his own down year in 2025—just three sacks in 12 games with the Minnesota Vikings. Back in the long-ago days of 2024, Smith posted 42 tackles and 6.5 sacks and added a team-leading four more in the postseason—including an eight-tackle, two-sack effort in the Wild Card Round.
A three-man rotation of Greenard, Smith and Hunt should help keep all three pass-rushers fresh—it's a staple of the Howie Roseman Eagles. A healthy Smith has the highest ceiling of the trio. Smith is going to hit that ceiling (or at least come close), leading the team in sacks on the way to the first Pro Bowl of his career. Book it."
Some might see Greenard as competition, but his arrival might actually be the best thing for Smith. There will be more attention on blocking him as the top edge rusher, so that will leave Smith open to get more pressures like last year with Phillips.
Read more: 0 snaps into Eagles career and one veteran is already on thin ice (but should he?)
Not many Eagles fans would have the same prediction as Davenport has, but how great would it be to see Smith have a Pro Bowl season at the right time?
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