PFF proves A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith cost former Commanders CBs their jobs

Stats can sometimes be deceiving, but it can also be a beautiful thing. Especially when the numbers work in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles.

One of the most dynamic wide receiver duos in the NFL is arguably from Philadelphia with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The two have been together since 2022, and the Eagles have gotten at least 900 yards receiving from Brown and Smith in each of those three years.

They have been tormenting cornerbacks ever since with both being great options for quarterback Jalen Hurts. There are two defensive backs though they have torched more than any others in the NFL. What's special about them? They both played for the Washington Commanders and both are no longer with the team.

Who's careers were ruined by Brown and Smith?

Pro Football Focus writer Ryan Smith shared some in-depth stats on wide receivers versus cornerbacks. Smith first examined Brown against cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, as Brown had a field day with him when Forbes was on the Commanders.

"The Commanders selected Forbes in the first round (16th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he was no match for Eagles All-Pro wideout A.J. Brown, who got the best of him twice that season. Brown was targeted 10 times in their Week 4 contest, catching six passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns (143.8 passer rating).

The second matchup between Washington and Philadelphia that year wasn’t quite as noteworthy as far as the individual matchup (two receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown), but Brown accounted for an 8-130-2 line overall for the game. He was simply unstoppable for the Commanders’ defense, no matter who covered him that day."

Forbes is no longer with the Commanders as the team cut him last year and the Los Angeles Rams signed him late in the season. He would only play two games with the Rams, but Brown was dominant against him.

Smith also made life miserable for Kendall Fuller as the two faced off in 2022. A usually reliable cornerback in Fuller got manhandled against Smith.

"Smith’s best game of 2022 came in Week 3 versus Washington when he caught eight of 12 targets for 169 yards and a touchdown (92.5 PFF game grade). Most of his production was with cornerback Kendall Fuller (38.4) in primary coverage — six targets, five receptions, 95 yards, one touchdown and a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted.

Smith’s dominant performance was even more impressive when you consider that Fuller was one of the 15 highest-graded cornerbacks in the league that season (76.6) and was coming off a year in which he ranked third (81.5) at his position."

Fuller was gone from the Commanders after the 2023 season and went on to play for the Miami Dolphins last year. Fuller is currently not in the NFL with a team.

Forbes and Fuller aren't the only cornerbacks who have taken a blunt of the hits from Brown and Smith in coverage. The stats show though that Brown and Smith made a significant impact on those cornerbacks to the point that Washington moved on from them.

2025 will bring on more victims for Brown and Smith to beat in coverage. Who will be those guys is the biggest question, but Eagles fans will be ready to see it all unfold.