DeVonta Smith Signed and Delivered
PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles have begun to sign their 2021 rookie class and the organization started at the top, agreeing to a four-year deal with the No. 10 overall selection DeVonta Smith on Thursday.
Also signing their rookie deals were third-round defensive tackle Milton Williams, fourth-round cornerback Zech McPhearson, and fifth-round running back Kenneth Gainwell.
The Eagles had nine picks last spring, so five remain unsigned, including second-round interior offensive lineman Landon Dickerson, defensive tackle Marlon Tuitupolu, defensive end Tarron Jackson, safety JaCoby Stevens, each of whom came in the sixth round, and seventh-round linebacker Patrick Johnson.
Sith, the Heisman Trophy-winning receiver out of Alabama, will receive a four-year fully guaranteed deal worth $20.1 million with a fifth-year team option.
Asked what he will do with his money, Smith simply said, "put it in the bank, that's about it."
Under the NFL's current system, rookies are slotted into contract parameters so the days of haggling back and forth and potential holdouts are largely gone. On occasion, there have been dust-ups over offset language in the contracts with certain teams.
"It's been a dream, but ultimately that's what you have an agent for," said Smith. "I trust my agent. I believe in him to make everything right and he did that. it's done and I'm excited just to go to work."
In the Eagles' case, they needed to wait until post-June 1 to start signing the class after the savings of previous designations on the releases of veterans Alshon Jeffery and Malik Jackson were recognized.
The Eagles will control Smith's rights through 2025 if they ultimately exercise the fifth-year option.
Smith is coming off a historic season with the national champion Crimson Tide, amassing 117 receptions for 1,856 yards with 23 touchdowns.
The 6-foot, 170-pound wideout is expected to step in immediately as the Eagles' top receiver, helping fortify a unit that hasn't produced even a 600-yard player in the last two seasons.
John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's EagleMaven and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on both PhillyVoice.com and YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Extending the Play" on AM1490 in South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.com’s Eagle Maven and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.
