Terrell Owens weighed in on the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver situation this weekend, and his comments about DeVonta Smith might be more significant than anything he said about A.J. Brown. The former Eagles star appeared at MLB All-Star Weekend and addressed Brown’s departure, but it was his praise for Smith as a legitimate No. 1 receiver that should have Eagles fans feeling confident about the 2026 season.

Owens, who went through his own messy split with Philadelphia years ago, said Brown “did what was best for him.” And credit to the Eagles legend here. He seemed a lot more mature than the guy we remember from all those years ago. He acknowledged that it stinks the front office couldn’t work things out with A.J., but he understood the full picture. Sometimes these things just don’t work out, and a player has to make the best decision for himself.

DeVonta Smith’s moment is here

What really stood out, though, was the follow-up question about the Eagles’ current wide receiver room. Owens didn’t hesitate. He said Smith is a wide receiver 1. He said Smith could have been a No. 1 his entire career, and if he had landed on another team, that’s exactly what he would have been. Owens really vocalized his belief in Smith’s leadership, too, and that part shouldn’t be overlooked.

This is just another endorsement for Smith heading into 2026. We’ve heard the reports all offseason. The Eagles view DeVonta as a potential breakout candidate along the lines of what we saw from Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith is criminally underrated, and it’s not even his fault. He’s just been living in A.J.’s shadow for years, but the talent has always been there. The route-running, the hands, the competitive fire. All of it.

And the fact that a legend like Owens can see that kind of ability in Smith? DeVonta is going to command respect as the clear alpha in this receiving corps, and I think he’s ready to step into that leadership role in a way we haven’t fully seen yet.

The production fear is overblown

Look, I get it. We’re all a little nervous about replacing A.J. Brown’s production. That’s natural. The guy was one of the best receivers in football, and losing that kind of talent is never easy. But I’m so serious when I say this: as the days go on, I feel even better about DeVonta Smith pulling in 1,500 receiving yards this season. I really do.

The target volume is going to increase without Brown’s competition, the offensive game plan is going to funnel through him in a way it never has before. And when you combine that with the respect he’s already earning from people around the league, including former greats who have been in his exact position, that alone tells you everything you need to know.

Smith has the tools, he just hasn’t had the opportunity to be the focal point of this passing attack. Now he does, and I think people across the NFL are starting to realize what Eagles fans are about to witness. DeVonta Smith is going to ball out in 2026, simple as that.