Bengals HC Zac Taylor refuses to compare Eagles WR DeVonta Smith to anyone else in the NFL
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is not your typical NFL wide receiver at 6-foot-0 and 170 pounds, but his "slim reaper" size has not kept him from being one of the best in the league. And that is exactly why Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor refuses to compare him to any other pass catcher […]
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is not your typical NFL wide receiver at 6-foot-0 and 170 pounds, but his "slim reaper" size has not kept him from being one of the best in the league.
And that is exactly why Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor refuses to compare him to any other pass catcher in the NFL.
"Devonta Smith is Devonta Smith,” Taylor said ahead of the Bengals' Week 8 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. “He’s not anybody else. And I just remember the competitor coming out, one of the most competitive guys you’ll ever watch. Take the measurables out of the equation. Tremendous speed, played physical, really strong at the catch point, finished off plays, was willing to do anything. Just a really impressive evaluation as he came out, and he’s obviously lived up to that in this league.
"And so again, I hate to put him in a bucket with other people his size and weight, because he plays so differently than what you would think initially when you saw his measurables, but tremendous player. Got a lot of respect for him.”
Smith, a former 10th overall pick out of Alabama in 2021, quickly became a face of the Eagles and one of quarterback Jalen Hurts' top targets alongside A.J. Brown.
In five games this season, Smith has 25 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns. He missed one game this season due to a concussion.
His number of targets were down in the Eagles' 28-3 win over the New York Giants last week as they relied heavily on Saquon Barkley and their run game, but he should be on tap for more action against the Bengals.
Cincy has done a much better of stopping the run than they have at containing the passing game so far this season.
Fans can catch how things unfold for Smith against the Bengals when they kick off on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
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