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The 2021 NFL Draft produced one of the most impressive wide receiver classes in recent memory. Ja'Marr Chase became a superstar almost immediately. Amon-Ra St. Brown developed into one of the league's most reliable offensive weapons. Nico Collins emerged as a dominant force. Jaylen Waddle helped transform the Miami Dolphins' offense, but the truth is, whenever these guys are mentioned, we don't often mention Philadelphia Eagles star DeVonta Smith alongside them.
Smith certainly belongs in that conversation as well, and he was recently. Pro Football Focus stacked the top wide receivers from the 2021 draft class based on career grading. Smith's 87.6 overall grade placed him behind St. Brown (93.4), Chase (92.1), Collins (91.8), and Waddle (90.4). On paper, that's an impressive company.
Beyond PFF's complicated stat line, however, there lies another angle. Smith is actually better than his grade or what his numbers say.
Each player above Smith has built a strong resume. St. Brown has hauled in 547 receptions for 6,252 yards and 44 touchdowns. Chase has amassed 520 catches, 6,837 yards, and 54 scores. Collins has been remarkably efficient despite fewer opportunities (289 receptions, 4,347 yards, and 24 scores), while Waddle has topped 5,000 career receiving yards and has notched 26 TDs on 373 career receptions.
Smith's numbers compare favorably. The former Heisman Trophy winner has already recorded 385 receptions, 5,019 receiving yards, and 31 touchdowns during his first five NFL seasons. He continues to climb past Eagles legends as he makes his way up the ladder, but did you notice? Those aren't the statistics of a complementary player. They're the numbers of a star.
DeVonta Smith's PFF grade deserves context. What makes his placement interesting is the environment in which he has played. Unlike some of his draft classmates, Smith spent much of his career sharing targets with an All-Pro receiver in A.J. Brown.
That arrangement benefited the Eagles tremendously, but it may have impacted how Smith is perceived nationally. Opportunities matter. Targets matter. Awards voting often matters too. There have been seasons when Smith produced at a Pro Bowl level but watched others receive the recognition.
Whether fair or unfair, it often felt as though voters were reluctant to send two Eagles receivers to the NFL's all-star team. The WR1 argument isn't going away, though. The fascinating thing about Smith is that we've already seen what happens when he's asked to carry more of the workload.
Before Brown arrived, Smith was the clear primary receiver in Philadelphia's passing attack. He set the franchise's rookie receiving record with 916 yards. Since then, he has repeatedly shown the ability to dominate games whenever defenses devote too much attention elsewhere.
That's why ranking him fifth among this group feels more like a reflection of circumstance than talent. The receivers ahead of him are outstanding players. There is no one disputing that. Still, if Smith had spent the past several seasons operating as the unquestioned No. 1 option in another offense, his resume might look very different today.
Eagles fans have known for years what the rest of the league will soon be forced to realize. DeVonta Smith isn't simply one of the better receivers from the 2021 class. He's one of the NFL's most complete wideouts, regardless of draft year.
Rankings make for great conversation. Smith may rank fifth on this list, but few defensive coordinators would feel comfortable betting against him if given the same opportunities as the players ahead of him. The Eagles have always known what they have, and now that A.J. Brown is gone, the rest of the NFL is about to get a much longer look.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles WR DeVonta Smith earns top-five mark among 2021 WRs
Continue reading...
Smith certainly belongs in that conversation as well, and he was recently. Pro Football Focus stacked the top wide receivers from the 2021 draft class based on career grading. Smith's 87.6 overall grade placed him behind St. Brown (93.4), Chase (92.1), Collins (91.8), and Waddle (90.4). On paper, that's an impressive company.
Beyond PFF's complicated stat line, however, there lies another angle. Smith is actually better than his grade or what his numbers say.
The 2021 NFL Draft class produced one of pro football's best collections of talent
Each player above Smith has built a strong resume. St. Brown has hauled in 547 receptions for 6,252 yards and 44 touchdowns. Chase has amassed 520 catches, 6,837 yards, and 54 scores. Collins has been remarkably efficient despite fewer opportunities (289 receptions, 4,347 yards, and 24 scores), while Waddle has topped 5,000 career receiving yards and has notched 26 TDs on 373 career receptions.
Smith's numbers compare favorably. The former Heisman Trophy winner has already recorded 385 receptions, 5,019 receiving yards, and 31 touchdowns during his first five NFL seasons. He continues to climb past Eagles legends as he makes his way up the ladder, but did you notice? Those aren't the statistics of a complementary player. They're the numbers of a star.
DeVonta Smith's PFF grade deserves context. What makes his placement interesting is the environment in which he has played. Unlike some of his draft classmates, Smith spent much of his career sharing targets with an All-Pro receiver in A.J. Brown.
That arrangement benefited the Eagles tremendously, but it may have impacted how Smith is perceived nationally. Opportunities matter. Targets matter. Awards voting often matters too. There have been seasons when Smith produced at a Pro Bowl level but watched others receive the recognition.
Whether fair or unfair, it often felt as though voters were reluctant to send two Eagles receivers to the NFL's all-star team. The WR1 argument isn't going away, though. The fascinating thing about Smith is that we've already seen what happens when he's asked to carry more of the workload.
Before Brown arrived, Smith was the clear primary receiver in Philadelphia's passing attack. He set the franchise's rookie receiving record with 916 yards. Since then, he has repeatedly shown the ability to dominate games whenever defenses devote too much attention elsewhere.
That's why ranking him fifth among this group feels more like a reflection of circumstance than talent. The receivers ahead of him are outstanding players. There is no one disputing that. Still, if Smith had spent the past several seasons operating as the unquestioned No. 1 option in another offense, his resume might look very different today.
Eagles fans have known for years what the rest of the league will soon be forced to realize. DeVonta Smith isn't simply one of the better receivers from the 2021 class. He's one of the NFL's most complete wideouts, regardless of draft year.
Rankings make for great conversation. Smith may rank fifth on this list, but few defensive coordinators would feel comfortable betting against him if given the same opportunities as the players ahead of him. The Eagles have always known what they have, and now that A.J. Brown is gone, the rest of the NFL is about to get a much longer look.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles WR DeVonta Smith earns top-five mark among 2021 WRs
Continue reading...
