Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVonta Smith has been impressing many current and former NFL players with his game.
The Eagles drafted Smith 10th overall in 2021. He went on to set the Eagles rookie record for receiving yards with 916.
Last year, Smith set the Eagles record for most receptions in a year with 95.
Smith’s route running ability, body control and great hands are just part of the skillset that make him a special player.
Smith caused five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and three-time first-team All-Pro Richard Sherman realize that it was time to retire, after 11 seasons in the NFL.
Sherman came to this decision on Oct. 14, 2021, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to Lincoln Financial Field. It was his third game as a member of the Buccaneers.
“DeVonta must’ve run this comeback (route),” Sherman said during a recent episode of his podcast, which had Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson on as guest.
“I had him under control, I was like, bam, quick jam, easy, had him under control. He must’ve stopped and I tried to stop and my whole groin said, ‘Snap, snap, snap, snap,’ and I said, ‘Whoa, whoa.’”
Sherman said that this made him realize that he could no longer compete with the young talented wide receivers in the NFL.
Sherman spent the first seven years of his stellar NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks and then moved on to play three more with the San Francisco 49ers, before signing with the Buccaneers.
Recently, NFL Hall-of-Famer and former Eagles WR Terrell Owens had high praise for DeVonta Smith. Owens at Smith’s second annual celebrity softball game last month had this to say about him.
“I’ve admired this guy’s game for so long,” T.O. told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “He’s been excelling ever since. He’s obviously doing really great things in Philly, where the expectations are high … his game speaks for itself.”
Back in 2021, former NFL All-Pro Chad Johnson was left speechless, after watching Smith’s precise route-running and smooth release.
Johnson sent out a tweet on Smith.
The sky’s the limit for Smith as he prepared for his third season in the NFL. He’ll look to earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro status as the Eagles look to get back to the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia Eagles WR Devonta Smith. Photo courtsey of Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
