DeVonta Smith says Pat Surtain is the toughest defender he's faced
As part of the NFL’s teaser for the 2023 NFL Top 100 rankings, Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver DeVonta Smith revealed which of the league’s defenders is the toughest he’s ever faced.
After giving props to his teammate and daily sparring partner Darius Slay, Smith told the NFL Films crew the honor goes to Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II.
“I would probably say Pat Surtain,” Smith said. “He’s just a technician. He is not going to fall for the first move. He’s real patient. He studies a lot so any little tendencies that you give him, he’s going to pick up on it.”
Former teammates, Smith and Surtain sharpened their skills under Nick Saban’s tutelage at Alabama. In their first matchup between the Eagles and Broncos in 2021, the wideout had four catches for 66 yards on four targets. Two of the catches were for touchdowns.
The former Bama duo doesn’t have a regular season matchup on the books this season.
Surtain in NFL Top 100?
Smith taking part in the NFL Top 100 series as a commentator for Surtain likely means the Broncos defender is on the list for the first time so far in his career.
Despite recording four interceptions in his rookie season, he didn’t make the rankings going into 2022, while eight other cornerbacks did. In his second season, he had 46 solo tackles, a forced fumble, a half sack and two more interceptions.
Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey was the highest-ranked cornerback on last year’s list at No. 9 overall. Smith’s teammate, Slay, was No. 77 overall.
Smith would also be making his debut in the top 100 if he is ranked as well. He posted his first 1,000-yard receiving season in 2022 after just missing the mark as a rookie.
The former Heisman Trophy winner had 95 receptions, 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns while helping the Eagles reach the 14-3 mark. On the way to the loss in the Super Bowl to the Chiefs, Smith added another 15 catches for 197 yards and another score.
The NFL Top 100 will come out in July on NFL+. The rankings series is going into it’s 13th year. Episodes with the rankings typically reveal the list from bottom to top with the No. 1 player at the end. Last year’s No. 1 overall was quarterback Tom Brady, who played his last season in 2022.