Eagles Sign WR DeVonta Smith to Lucrative Contract Extension
Can you hear the huge sigh of relief coming from Philly? Folks in the City of Brotherly Love are thrilled to know that star wide receiver DeVonta Smith will be with the Eagles for several more years.
Smith and the Eagles agreed to a contract extension worth $75 million on Monday, April 16. What does this deal mean for all parties involved? Read on to check out the ins and outs of the extension.
How the Extension Benefits Smith
A $75 million payday is never a bad thing, and Smith is probably more than pleased that $51 million of the contract extension is guaranteed. The new deal means that Smith can focus on preparing for the upcoming 2024-25 NFL season instead of thinking about the possibility of free agency.
Financial security isn't the only benefit that the Slim Reaper will enjoy from the extension. Smith, a 25-year-old from Louisiana, played collegiately with current Eagles QB Jalen Hurts at Alabama. Those two have had an undeniable chemistry for the better part of six seasons (college and NFL combined).
How Do the Eagles Benefit from the Deal?
In inking Smith to a new deal, the Eagles have secured one of the NFL's most productive wide receivers. Though Smith is one of the smallest wideouts in the league (6-foot, 170 lbs.), he's only missed one pro game in his entire career.
Smith's a no-nonsense type of guy that never complains, which is a rarity at the receiver position in the NFL. Though Smith has yet to make a Pro Bowl, he's racked up over 3,000 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in his first 50 NFL games.
He's also a bona fide downfield threat that makes it hard on defenses to double team AJ Brown. Smith and Brown form one of the top 1-2 punches in the league at the wideout position. Keeping both star wideouts gives Philly plenty of offensive firepower for years to come!
New Additions for Philly
The Eagles have had a busy off-season to put it mildly. In addition to the extension of Smith, Philadelphia brought in veteran wideouts Parris Campbell and Devante Parker. Those are two solid additions that could help out Jalen Hurts on third down and long.
Philly's biggest move this off-season was bringing in superstar running back Saquon Barkley from the Giants. The former Penn State star is one of the few every-down backs in the NFL, and he found the end zone 10 times in 2023. It'll be interesting to see how Nick Sirianni uses Barkley in the Eagles offense.
It's not just the Philly offense that's been busy. Linebackers Bryce Huff and Devin White were brought in to aid the linebacking corps. Huff had 10 sacks a year ago for the Jets and White is adept at stopping both the run and the pass.
The secondary also got some help by bringing in former Detroit Lions corner CJ Gardner-Johnson. The former Florida Gator was dogged by injuries for much of last season, but he hauled in 6 interceptions back in 2022.
With so many marquee additions and a new deal for DeVonta Smith, the future sure looks bright for the Eagles.