For years, the Philadelphia Eagles have enjoyed the luxury of having two wide receivers capable of commanding No. 1 roles in most NFL offenses. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith formed one of the league's most dangerous duos before Brown was shipped off to the New England Patriots earlier this offseason.
But since Brown's departure, some doubts have started to creep in about whether Smith can truly be Philly's WR1. NFL analyst Louis Riddick is ready to put those doubts to rest. On a recent episode of ESPN's "Get Up," he set the record straight on Smith's talent.
Riddick said, "Going back to Alabama, he's been a guy who has always thrived in the spotlight. He can thrive in any area of the football field. Outside lane, inside lane. He's tough after the catch. He's tough in contested ball situations. I don't think anybody will be surprised when he does have that breakout type of season."
DeVonta Smith leaves no doubt he can be Eagles' WR1 after A.J. Brown trade
Let's not forget who Smith is. He won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama and was picked in the top ten of the 2021 NFL Draft. This is an immensely talented receiver with the pedigree to be a top target in the NFL without question.
Even with Brown on the field, Smith has produced WR1 numbers. He has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in all four seasons since the Eagles traded for Brown. Even in an offense with limited overall passing volume, he has been consistently productive.
Sure, Smith doesn't fit the typical archetype of a top receiver. At just 170 pounds, he's not the ball-winning "X" receiver that some teams look for in their top pass catcher. But that doesn't mean that he can't command over 100 targets and be the driving force of the Eagles' passing game.
In games without Brown over the last two seasons, Smith has averaged about six catches for 73 yards per game. Projected out over a complete season, that would have him finishing with over 100 catches and over 1,200 yards.
The weight of the Eagles' passing attack isn't all on Smith's shoulders. Philadelphia brought in plenty of other options this offseason, including rookies Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers, so Smith won't need to replace all of the production left by Brown.
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But there's no doubt that the former Heisman Trophy winner is ready to take on a bigger role. All signs point to a breakout season for Smith.
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