The New Face in Philly

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Devonta Smith with the 10th Overall Pick in the 2021 NFL Draft

Shane Olexa, Reporting Journalist

With the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles selected Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama. The Eagles had a chance to pick a possible franchise wide receiver and they didn’t pass up on the chance. The Eagles traded with their hated NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys, to get the 10th pick to select Smith. In exchange, the Cowboys got Philly’s first and third round picks.

Smith is no stranger to football fans. He had 117 receptions, 1,856 yards, and 23 touchdowns and, because of that, won the Heisman Trophy in 2020. Smith is a two-time CFB National Champion, CFP National Championship Offensive MVP, Maxwell Award winner, Walter Camp Award winner, Paul Hornung Award winner, AP College Football Player of the Year, Unanimous All-American, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and a two-time First-team All-SEC. Through four seasons with the Crimson Tide, Smith has 235 receptions, 3,965 yards, and 46 touchdowns.

There’s no questioning Smith’s talent. And, it definitely doesn’t help opposing defenses that Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Smith already have great chemistry. The two were former teammates at Alabama. Smith had 42 receptions, 693 yards, and six touchdowns in 2018. The majority of those passes were thrown by none other than Jalen Hurts. To many fans, Devonta Smith could easily be one of the best receivers in Philadelphia Eagles history. Of course, that includes Harold Carmichael, Tommy McDonald, and Mike Quick, and Terrel Owens.

The Eagles certainly won’t be the favorites when it comes to winning the Lombardi Trophy. In fact, many people believe they’ll have a top 10 draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but Devonta Smith is a winner. He proved that at Alabama and it seems as if he will do anything to get the Eagles and their fans celebrating down Broad Street again.