Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith are the two newest members of the Philadelphia Eagles. The two Alabama teammates have become close friends, which is great news for fans of both teams.
Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith became such close friends in college that they decided to play together again at the NFL level. Their friendship is fantastic news for Philadelphia Eagles fans, who have been waiting for a long time for this duo to come back together.
As things stand now, Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith are the Philadelphia Eagles’ future.
Things in the NFL may now change in an instant. Given how often the Eagles have been linked to Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, there’s a good possibility Hurts won’t be the Eagles’ starting quarterback by 2022.
Hurts, on the other hand, is the current starter, and with Smith, he has the ideal weapon to rely on throughout the 2021 season.
In college, Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith formed an unusual relationship.
DeVonta Smith #6 and Jalen Hurts #1 | Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
For those unfamiliar with Hurts and Smith, one of the main reasons Eagles supporters are thrilled about them is because of their previous collegiate connection. They were teammates at Alabama and established a strong off-the-field bond.
After losing the starting quarterback position to Tua Tagovailoa, Hurts moved to Oklahoma, while Smith stayed at Alabama to win the Heisman Trophy. Even so, it’s unusual to see college friends reunite in the NFL. Moving ahead, Hurts and Smith have the potential to be a great combination for the Eagles.
The way the two formed their relationship in college is what makes their collaboration really special. According to an interview Smith gave in May, instead of partying, the two would spend their Friday and Saturday evenings working out and practicing:
“In Tuscaloosa, you usually want to go to the strip… or find something to be involved in, such as a party,” Hurts added. “His (Smith’s) mind was elsewhere. He was attempting to get some work done. We were working late into the night at the indoor (facility). So I think it demonstrates his mindset, and I believe he’ll bring all of that with him here” (NBC Sports Philadelphia).
DeVonta Smith will be called upon by Jalen Hurts.
Smith is coming off a standout senior season at Alabama, and his exceptional route-running abilities are expected to be a key component of the Eagles’ offense. The absence of a genuine separator on the outside was one of the biggest problems for the Philadelphia offense in 2020.
Smith should be able to fill this gap with ease.
Hurts just has to put his confidence in his buddy to get open and then make precise passes. During his first season, Hurts had a lot of success rushing the ball. He, on the other hand, failed to consistently propel the ball through the air. He ended 2020 with a 52.0 percent completion percentage, which is far from enough for a starting quarterback.
Hurts’ best bet for overcoming any possible accuracy problems this season is to rely on his connection with Smith.
The Philadelphia Eagles are still in the midst of a rebuilding process.
In the city of brotherly love, expectations are usually high. However, the Eagles will most likely be rebuilding again in 2021.
Hurts is still a work in progress, and the club has few young players who may be considered potential building blocks.
This season, the Eagles are testing the waters to determine whether the Hurts-Smith combination is worthy of continuing to develop around. If the pair fails to impress, the late-night training may be for nothing, as the Eagles are expected to take a different approach at quarterback.
In any case, Eagles supporters should be pleased with their new quarterback-wide receiver pairing. They seem to be a diligent, straightforward couple.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
Following Zach Ertz’s surprising announcement, the Philadelphia Eagles quietly considered trading one of their top young stars to the Minnesota Vikings.
The Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith in the 2019 NFL Draft. The two players became close friends at Alabama, which is fantastic news for Eagles fans. Reference: eagles draft picks 2021.
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