Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay has shut down some of the top receivers in the NFL during his 11-year-career.
The five-time Pro Bowl selection made a prediction Tuesday about a wide receiver he thinks will be the best in the NFL.
It’s his Eagles teammate, DeVonta Smith.
“He got all the tools,” Slay said (via NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com). “I told him, ‘You know, it ain’t going to be too much longer we’re going to be saying Smitty the best receiver in the league,’ for sure. It ain’t gonna be too much longer.”
Smith is hardly an unknown. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he caught 95 passes for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns last season. But he wasn’t even the best receiver on his own team, as A.J. Brown had better numbers and routinely drew No. 1 corner coverage on the other side.
“With A.J. pushing him, man, he’s learned so much from A.J., from A.J. doing this and doing that, it’s just like it’s destined for him,” Slay said. “A.J. is doing a great job leading him because A.J. is by far elite as hell, too. So he’s got a good thing going.
“So by the time he get all crazy, I’m gonna be sitting back at home watching him like, ‘I knew. I told myself that.’”
Slay stood behind his prediction that Smith will soon be the best in the league.
“I’m not gonna put a crazy (expectation) on him, but he’s got that type of ability to be that kind of guy,” Slay said. “He could continue to keep doing what he’s doing and growing as a player, which I know he would. Yeah, it ain’t gonna be too much longer than that. We’re gonna have the best two, for sure.”
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.