The next era in the Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver is about to begin in 2026, with plenty of fresh faces, and a new number one pass target finally gets his shot to prove he's the guy.
Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is about to take a massive step in his career as he's about to take more of a leadership role on offense and will be Jalen Hurts' number one guy in the passing game. Smith might also be seen as a mentor to rookie first-round pick Makal Lemon, which he is perfectly fine with.
"Whatever he needs, he can ask me," Smith said via The Athletic's Zach Berman. "I'm not going to try to get in his way. ...If he needs me, I'm there for him."
DeVonta Smith ready to help Makai Lemon out for the 2026 season
Lemon has publicly already said that he and Smith have had conversations together since he was selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Those talks have gone well and show what Eagles fans were hoping to hear: the two are starting to build their working relationship.
Philly needs Lemon and Smith to be in sync, as they will be the duo in the Eagles' wide receiver room for the next four to five years. Smith is the number one guy, but Lemon must develop into WR2, as he will most likely be replacing A.J. Brown, who is less than a month away from being a part of a rumored trade.
The Eagles will have Lemon line up in the slot while Smith will be on the outside. While they are two different types of receivers, their unique skill sets will complement each other really well in the offense.
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Smith is showing the kind of leadership the Eagles need right now to get them through this transitional period, as he and Lemon looked poised to have a strong 2026 season together.
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