Smith would welcome a veteran receiver in Philly

[time2rock]

Smith would welcome a veteran receiver in Philly

 

DeVonta Smith is no longer a rookie but even as he starts to prepare for Year 2, he’s going to be the centerpiece of a very young Eagles receivers room.

Smith, 23, would welcome a veteran in that room.

John Clark caught up with Smith out in Los Angeles, the site of Super Bowl LVI, to talk about a bunch of different topics, including his connection with Jalen Hurts, the NBA and his indifference to cheesesteaks on the latest Takeoff with John Clark podcast.

But this answer about the Eagles’ possibly adding a veteran receiver this offseason stood out to me:

"I feel like it would help,” Smith said. "Somebody that’s already been there. I know it would help for me, just being under their wing, how they operate, how they are as a pro.”

The Eagles have seven receivers on their roster and the oldest of the bunch is Greg Ward at 26. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, John Hightower and Deon Cain are all 25. And Smith, Quez Watkins and Jalen Reagor are all still just 23.

The Eagles’ top three receivers in 2021 were the 23-year-olds: Smith, Watkins and Reagor. After the season, Nick Sirianni spelled out the pecking order like that: Smith is the 1, Watkins the 2 and Reagor the 3. While Sirianni really seems to believe in Watkins’ ability as a No. 2 receiver in the NFL, the Eagles might really benefit from adding a veteran free agent receiver this offseason.

And there are going to be plenty of good ones available, including DaVante Adams, Mike Williams, Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Michael Gallup, Odell Beckham Jr., Christian Kirk and more.

Smith is already more advanced than most receivers his age and coming off just one NFL season, but he’d also be willing to learn from a veteran if the Eagles add one. That alone might make it worth it. Ward became the de facto leader in the receiver room in 2021, which was OK, but he’s a deep reserve who didn’t even play the position in college.

In addition to the question about a veteran receiver, Clark hit Smith with plenty of rapid fire questions throughout the interview. Here were a few other takeaways:

• During this playoff run, Smith and Jalen Hurts have watched the success longtime teammates Joe Burrow and JaMarr Chase have had with the Bengals and they want that to be them.

"You see those guys, what they’ve done,” Smith said. "You see that and that’s where you want to be. Eventually, we’re going to get there.”

• Smith thinks Hurts has what it takes to be the Eagles’ franchise quarterback: "Most definitely. He’s that guy. You want somebody that’s not going to run away from anything they do wrong. He makes a mistake, he owns up to it and he corrects it. That’s the type of guy that you want.”

• Smith called himself the best basketball player on the team and then listed his starting five from the Eagles’ locker room.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-devonta-smith-would-welcome-veteran-receiver

[PoconoDon]

2 hours ago, time2rock said:

The Eagles have seven receivers on their roster and the oldest of the bunch is Greg Ward at 26. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, John Hightower and Deon Cain are all 25. And Smith, Quez Watkins and Jalen Reagor are all still just 23.

Wow, and the only ones they should definitely keep are Smith and Watkins. Looks like the Eagles have 5 openings for WR on the roster.

[time2rock]

35 minutes ago, PoconoDon said:

Wow, and the only ones they should definitely keep are Smith and Watkins. Looks like the Eagles have 5 openings for WR on the roster.

Smith & Watkins … sounds like a law firm.  Or gun manufacturer.  

 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

Basically... Howie go and get a good vet! Smith just told you that 1) you need one and 2) he'll benefit from it. And I love that attitude and his honesty. 

[Cheesteakitis]

i like JuJu think he would be a solid pickup and fits what we do.. 

i’m surprised haven’t heard more rumors about trading for calvin ridley he has a connection to both smith and hurts and appears to be looking for a fresh start.

[time2rock]

14 hours ago, Cheesteakitis said:

i like JuJu think he would be a solid pickup and fits what we do.. 

i’m surprised haven’t heard more rumors about trading for calvin ridley he has a connection to both smith and hurts and appears to be looking for a fresh start.

I like JuJu's game as well - I think he'd be a solid pickup.  I do wonder if he may not have interest since he turned down more money to play here last year to stay in Pittsburgh.  Maybe he just saw the uncertainty at QB and an overhaul of the coaching staff and figured we'd be basement dwellers for a while and wanted no part of that.

Also like Chark.  I like Godwin quite a bit too but don't think he'll be a realistic target (too expensive, and coming off that injury is a roll of the dice).  Robinson would also be a solid fit but also think he'll be too pricey.  

[Cheesteakitis]

2 hours ago, time2rock said:

I like JuJu's game as well - I think he'd be a solid pickup.  I do wonder if he may not have interest since he turned down more money to play here last year to stay in Pittsburgh.  Maybe he just saw the uncertainty at QB and an overhaul of the coaching staff and figured we'd be basement dwellers for a while and wanted no part of that.

Also like Chark.  I like Godwin quite a bit too but don't think he'll be a realistic target (too expensive, and coming off that injury is a roll of the dice).  Robinson would also be a solid fit but also think he'll be too pricey.  

i didn’t realize Juju is only 25 seems like he has been around the league for a while now. rumors are he also turned down bmore and kc so we shall see what happens this year.

not sold on Chark maybe interested.. and yeah i think Godwin and Robinson cost to much, as would Adams and Williams if they make it to free agency…

if i’m taking a roll of the dice player maybe i take a swing at Will Fuller 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

4 hours ago, Cheesteakitis said:

i didn’t realize Juju is only 25 seems like he has been around the league for a while now. rumors are he also turned down bmore and kc so we shall see what happens this year.

From what I've heard though JuJu is almost primarily a slot receiver... That's not exactly what we need. 

[Cheesteakitis]

3 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

From what I've heard though JuJu is almost primarily a slot receiver... That's not exactly what we need. 

we need talent at wr does it really matter if it’s in the slot?  they say quez is the #2 does that mean they view him more as an outside wr? JuJu make a lot of 5-10 yard catches and turns them into 12-15 yard gains and first downs. if we can get someone that catches the ball and gets first downs sign me up doesn’t matter what position they play. 

no matter who we pickup i think they should look to add both a vet and a draft pick so if the vet is an inside player maybe the draft pick is an outside player. 

 

talent is talent and we should look to add it at about every position possible.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

7 hours ago, Cheesteakitis said:

we need talent at wr does it really matter if it’s in the slot?  they say quez is the #2 does that mean they view him more as an outside wr? JuJu make a lot of 5-10 yard catches and turns them into 12-15 yard gains and first downs. if we can get someone that catches the ball and gets first downs sign me up doesn’t matter what position they play. 

Look... JuJu would be a really good addition to this WR room because he's a really good talented WR. But they need a bigger more physical WR to play opposite Smith.