Why Louis Riddick believes DeVonta Smith will 'thrive' as Eagles' WR1

Last season alone, Smith still had 77 receptions for 1,008 yards and four TDs when Brown was on the field. While Brown had three more TD catches, he only recorded one more reception and had five fewer receiving yards.

Brown played in two fewer games, but Smith was still a huge part of the offense. His 13.1 yards per catch was second only to Jahan Dotson (14.6), who is now with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a two-year deal.

"He's been a guy who has always thrived in the spotlight," Riddick continued, describing Smith's ability to rise to the occasion. "He can thrive in any area of the football field, outside lane, inside lane. He's tough after the catch, he's tough in contested ball situations. I don't think anybody there will be surprised when he does have that breakout type of season."

Smith has had seven or more receiving TDs in three of his five seasons and has only committed a total of three fumbles in his career. The expectation is that he can find the end zone more often as WR1 and assert himself as quarterback Jalen Hurts' go-to option.

Smith has elite route-running skills, but his thinner-than-average frame and ability to generate massive yards after the catch still pose some concerns if he is truly going to thrive as WR1 and experience a production jump.

This offense will be counting on that happening. After all, the Eagles defense was tied for the fifth-fewest yards allowed last season (19.3 YPG), making a wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers that much more frustrating.

Furthermore, ESPN's latest player rankings did not include Smith in its top 10 at the WR position, only listing him as an honorable mention in a poll voted on by league executives, coaches and scouts.

While that is not too surprising when you look at who is ahead of him, it shows that he still has a lot to prove as he steps into this role as the clear WR1 alongside projected starters Dontayvion Wicks and rookie Makai Lemon.

With that said, Smith's track record suggests he is more than capable of stepping up and having a breakout season for an Eagles team that needs a spark on its offense after 2025.