A.J. Brown heaps praise on former Alabama star Devonta Smith

The Philadelphia Eagles welcomed Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown into the organization over the offseason. Add Brown into the mix with former Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith, and the Eagles have quietly developed one of the best one-two wideout combinations in the league entering the 2022 season.

“In my opinion, Smitty is a wide receiver No. 1,” Brown said, via NFL.com. “And he going against a cornerback No. 2, I expect Smitty to dominate. Just taking pressure off each other. Even being on the same sides, so you can’t really double. It’s great having another great wideout besides you.”

Smith led the Eagles in receiving yards as a rookie with 916 yards on 64 receptions and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, Brown was still in Tennessee with the Titans that saw him put up similar numbers that Smith did during his rookie campaign – 63 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns.

It was the first time in Brown’s three-year career that he didn’t haul in at least 1,000 yards in a single season – something Smith will look to do for the first time in 2022.

“He’s a really good route runner,” Brown said of Smith. “Guys early on in their career, like first year, Year 2, they’re still developing and he can run every route in the route tree. Just a little [nuances], little things that, of course, that we all can get better at. And just keep tuning up our game and keep developing. I think the sky’s the limit for Smitty. So, I’m excited for him Year 2. I’m excited for the steps he takes.”

If Smith’s Alabama career was just a preface to what his pro career will be, then he’s going to enjoy a mountain of success, as Brown predicts, throughout a long career. During his final two seasons with the Crimson Tide, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner compiled 185 receptions for 3,112 yards and 37 touchdowns – all three categories are the most of any receiver in college football between the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

With Smith and Brown out wide, quarterback Jalen Hurts has the weapons he needs to send the Eagles back to the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.