The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2025 season as defending Super Bowl champions, but the campaign quickly turned sour. Offensive struggles plagued the team all year, resulting in a 19th-ranked scoring offense that averaged just 22.1 points per game and a 24th-ranked yardage output of 311 yards per contest. Those numbers were a far cry from the explosive unit that had carried the franchise to glory just months earlier.

Then came the offseason. A.J. Brown, the team's dynamic No. 1 receiver, was dealt to the New England Patriots, leaving a massive void in the passing attack. The Eagles now turn to DeVonta Smith, the slim but technically brilliant receiver who has been Brown's understudy since entering the league. As the 2026 season looms, all eyes are on Smith to see if he can elevate his game to WR1 status.

ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Louis Riddick is among those who believe Smith is more than ready. During a July 15, 2026 segment on Get Up, Riddick was unequivocal in his assessment. "No question about it," he said. "When you look at his production going back to 2022, when A.J. Brown was there and when A.J. Brown wasn't on the football field, DeVonta, if you project that out over 17 games, you're looking at over 100 targets, about 105 or 106 receptions, about 1,300 yards. That's what I would expect from him this year."

Riddick's confidence is rooted in Smith's track record. Even last season, with Brown active for most of the year, Smith compiled 77 catches for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns. Brown, despite playing two fewer games, had three more touchdown receptions but only one more catch and five fewer yards receiving. Smith's 13.1 yards per reception ranked second on the team behind Jahan Dotson (14.6), who has since signed a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

"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's durability is also noteworthy. He has recorded seven or more receiving touchdowns in three of his five professional seasons and has fumbled only three times in his entire career. The expectation is that as the clear WR1, he will become quarterback Jalen Hurts' go-to option, especially in the red zone. His elite route-running and ability to separate from defenders are his greatest assets.

Yet concerns linger. Smith's frame—he is listed at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds—has always raised questions about whether he can withstand the physical toll of being a primary target. Critics also point to his modest yards-after-catch numbers, suggesting that without Brown drawing double teams, Smith may face more attention from defenses. The Eagles' offense, which ranked 24th in yards per game last season, needs Smith to prove those doubts wrong.

The team's 2025 collapse was made even more frustrating by the defense's performance. The Eagles allowed the fifth-fewest yards per game (19.3), yet they lost in the wild-card round to the San Francisco 49ers. That defensive strength only magnifies the need for the offense to rediscover its rhythm.

ESPN's latest player rankings for wide receivers did not include Smith in the top 10, placing him only as an honorable mention in a poll of league executives, coaches, and scouts. While that is not surprising given the competition—players like Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Ja'Marr Chase occupy the top spots—it underscores that Smith still has much to prove as he steps into the WR1 role. He will be joined by projected starters Dontayvion Wicks and rookie Makai Lemon, a group that lacks the star power of the previous Brown-Smith tandem.

Still, Smith's career trajectory suggests he is capable of rising to the challenge. The Eagles need a spark on offense after a disappointing 2025, and Riddick believes Smith will provide exactly that.