Philadelphia Eagles: Ja’Marr Chase or DeVonta Smith, who’s better?
By David Esser
Final Verdict: Who should the Philadelphia Eagles select?
So, the million dollar question. Who should the Philadelphia Eagles draft at #6 if both Ja’Marr Chase and DeVonta Smith are available?
Now for what it’s worth, there’s a fairly likely chance that one of them will be off the board by the time Philly is on the clock, essentially making the decision for Howie Roseman and company. The Miami Dolphins have been seriously linked to WRs after the debacle that was their receiving room in 2020, and the Bengals might not want to pass on the opportunity to pair Joe Burrow back up with his former favorite target.
However, if both Chase and Smith fall to #6, and the decision rests on the Eagles, I’m leaning towards Ja’Marr Chase as the better prospect.
As unbelievable as Smith was this past season, it’s hard to negate what Chase did as a 19 year old kid, playing against the same level of competition. Had Chase not opted out of 2020 season, there’s no telling what he could’ve accomplished as a junior.
Additionally, Chase offers more to an NFL offense as a prototypical “X” receiver. While Smith showcased that he can make contested catches in the red zone upon request, Chase is far better suited for the role with his 6-1, 210lbs frame (as opposed to Smith’s 6-1, 185lbs frame).
While DeVonta Smith’s surreal 2020 season is still fresh in everyone’s minds, it would be foolish to forget what Ja’Marr Chase did for LSU back in 2019. Justin Jefferson looked like a top-ten receiver in all of football this year, and the general consensus was that Chase was better than Jefferson at LSU.
Smith is a phenomenal prospect, don’t get me wrong. His speed and ability to separate would do wonders for a guy like Carson Wentz (who struggles with accuracy at times). I wouldn’t be mad if the Eagles ended up with him.
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With that said, I still fundamentally believe Chase is the superior prospect. His size, age, production, and athleticism all scream of a guy set to dominate the pros for years to come. The Eagles passed on one stud LSU receiver during last year’s draft – they’d be wise to not repeat that mistake.