DeVonta Smith: The Rising Star in the Philadelphia Eagles' Offense
The Philadelphia Eagles boast a gem in wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who's quickly carving out a legendary status with the franchise. Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Smith continues to impress with his relentless work ethic and improving performance.
Smith’s contributions to the Eagles' offense have been impeccable. With 240 receptions and 3,178 receiving yards in his first three seasons, he has already set the record for the most receptions and receiving yards in the franchise's history. Not one to rest on his laurels, the young receiver has high standards for himself and continuously seeks to elevate his game. "There's always room for improvement," he says, emphasizing the constant evolution required to stay at the top in the NFL. "Every year, you're gonna find something new that you're going to want to put in the toolbox."
During the Eagles' training camp, Smith has been a standout performer, earning praise from his position coach, Aaron Moorhead. "He's had as good of a camp that he's had probably since I've been here with him," says Moorhead. "His confidence is through the roof, and he's continuing just to master his craft."
Smith’s dedication is evident not just in the spectacular plays but also in the little things that often go unnoticed. Moorhead appreciates Smith’s meticulous attention to detail and his execution of routine plays. "Just doing the routine things," Moorhead explains. "The plays that I left on the field, there were routine things that I wasn't doing. Making sure that I'm constantly doing the routine things so that I'm capitalizing on every play."
In practice, Smith has been consistently catching passes, underscoring his reliability and focus. The wide receiver’s ability to stay concentrated and perform during drills exemplifies his high football IQ and situational awareness—areas he is keen on improving. "You always want to improve your football IQ," Smith asserts. "That's something you can always grow on. There might be situations we have this year that we didn't run into last year. So situational football and football IQ."
Smith also acknowledges the importance of fulfilling his role, even when he isn't the primary target. "Making sure I'm doing my job. If I'm open and the ball doesn't come to me, for me, that's a plus because at the end of the day I still did my job," he notes. "I was open. So just going out there and making sure I'm putting the right things on tape."
Smith’s growth mindset and attention to detail have not gone unnoticed. Moorhead contends Smith knows the areas where he can improve. "There are plays I think every year he's been here he's left on the field for certain things—just maybe a technique here, a technique there—and things that would've been big plays for us in games. He knows that."
The future indeed looks bright for DeVonta Smith, especially following his contract extension worth $25 million per year, reflecting the organization's recognition of his value. As the Eagles gear up for the upcoming season, they can certainly count on Smith’s remarkable abilities and unwavering commitment to excellence. With a high ceiling and a relentless drive to get better, Smith is poised to elevate both his game and the Eagles’ offense to new heights.