On Monday morning, the Philadelphia Eagles locked up a key piece to their core as they signed wide receiver DeVonta Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract extension. That puts one of Jalen Hurts’ top weapons under contract through the 2028 season, as the Birds also picked up his fifth-year option, which accounts for the 2025 season. The three-year deal reportedly includes $51 million guaranteed.
This extension shouldn’t surprise Eagles fans as Smith has been one of their most consistent players since they traded up to draft him 10th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Once deemed as “too small for the NFL,” Smith has missed just one game due to injury in his career, which was Week 18 of the 2023 season. Over his first three seasons, Skinny Batman has averaged 80 catches, over six touchdowns, and 1,059.3 yards on an average of 117 targets.
The average per year on the contract is $25 million, which evens Smith up with running mate A.J. Brown’s APY on his four-year, $100 million deal, signed after the Eagles traded for him in 2022.
Prioritizing an extension now was vital as it comes before the market ups the ante with deals expected for the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brandon Aiyuk, Ja’Marr Chase, etc.
The Eagles have a great chance to produce one of, if not the best, offenses in the NFL in 2023 after adding Kellen Moore as their new offensive coordinator. Smith could very well benefit greatly from the change of coaching, as the former Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator will bring fresh ideas to the offense.
Philadelphia has also locked up Landon Dickerson, Jake Elliot, and Jordan Mailata through the 2028 season this offseason. Hurts was also previously locked up through that same season before the 2023 season.
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