Eagles WRs DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown Make the PFF Grade

The two Philadelphia Eagles pass-catchers graded out in the top 10 by PFF in their respective draft classes

Author:
Ed Kracz
Publish date:
Apr 13, 2023 3:14 PM EDT

In this story:

The NFL Draft begins April 27 and ends April 29, as each team’s haul will begin flowing in as soon as it ends.

Typically, it takes a good three years to judge a draft class properly, especially when it comes to the Philadelphia Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman. He seems to always makes his selection on what a prospect can do over the following three seasons rather than right away.

Recently, Pro Football Focus released its grades for several classes.

PFF’s highest career grades for 2019 and 2021 are interesting since it has two Eagles receivers on it.

Obviously, those two are A.J. Brown, who wasn’t drafted by the Eagles, but by the Tennessee Titans in 2019, and DeVonta Smith, who the Eagles traded up two spots with the Dallas Cowboys to take in 2021.

Here’s a further breakdown of the top 10 in each class:

2019

Brown received the second-highest career score at 91.8, just behind the top-graded player, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who scored 93.1.

Interestingly, the first overall pick in this class, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, did not make the PFF list.

It’s a group of 10 that is sort of all over the place regarding where each player arrived in the draft, which is something to keep in mind as the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft approaches on April 27.

Jacobs, who was the 24th overall selection in this draft class, is just one of the four players who came in the first round to make the top 10 grades.

The other three are San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa, the second overall pick who came in third on PFF’s list, behind Brown, and Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom, the 14th overall pick who was fourth among the top 10 and New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, who was the 17th overall selection and tied with 49ers running back. Receiver Deebo Samuel at fifth on the list.

Samuel, like Brown, was a second-round pick, the 36th overall player taken. Brown was the 51st player chosen.

Seattle Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf was the third second-round pick to make the list.

There were two players from the third round (Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, drafted 76th overall; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jemal Dean, drafted 94th overall).

Jacob’s teammate, edge rusher Maxx Crosby, made the top 10 despite not being drafted until the fourth round, No. 106 overall.

Here’s the list:

Josh Jacobs 93.1

A.J. Brown 91.8

Nick Bosa 91.7

Chris Lindstrom 90.7

Deebo Samuel 89.8

Dexter Lawrence 89.8

Maxx Crosby 89.1

Terry McLaurin 88.7

D.K. Metcalf 86.2

Jamel Dean 85.1

2021

Smith received the ninth-highest career grade from this class with a score of 82.7.

None of the top four players taken in the draft made the grade – quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance, and tight end Kyle Pitts.

The first player to make the PFF top 10 from the draft class was Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was taken fifth and is fourth on the list.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown coming in third on the list behind top-ranked Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey and second-ranked Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons.

St. Brown was a fourth-round pick, No. 112 overall.

Humphrey came in the second round at No. 63 while Parsons was the player the Cowboys took at No. 12 after trading with the Eagles so they could draft Smith.

New England Patriots running back Rhamnodre Stevens, fifth on PFF’s list, was also a fourth-round selection, No. 120 overall.

Here’s the list:

Creed Humphrey 93.3

Micah Parsons 92.1

Amon-Ra St. Brown 90.2

Ja’Marr Chase 89.1

Rhamondre Stevenson 86.9

Rashawn Slater 85.9
Christian Darrisaw 85.8

Jaylen Waddle 84.2

DeVonta Smith 82.7

Patrick Surtain 81.7

Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.