DeVonta Smith is one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL, and ESPN‘s latest position rankings just proved it. The Philadelphia Eagles wideout landed at No. 22 on the network’s 2026 receiver list, behind names like Terry McLaurin, Tee Higgins, and Alec Pierce. Smith trails former teammate A.J. Brown, who came in at No. 9. And while Brown ranking higher was probably expected given his status as the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver, seeing Smitty buried in the 20s is genuinely absurd.

Look, there are a lot of talented receivers in the league. Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, George Pickens. Nobody’s arguing that those guys aren’t elite. But DeVonta Smith at No. 22? Behind Alec Pierce? That ranking tells me people aren’t watching the tape.

Smitty’s resume speaks for itself

Go look at what Smith has done over his first five NFL seasons. He has three 1,000-yard campaigns on his resume. The one season he didn’t crack that mark during his peak years was 2024, when he missed four games due to injury. He was on pace for 1,000 yards before the absence knocked him off track. And his rookie season? He posted 916 yards in a year when the Eagles didn’t have a stable running game, Nick Sirianni was a first-year head coach, and Jalen Hurts was starting his first full season as Philadelphia’s quarterback. That context matters.

Smith has consistently produced at a high level regardless of the circumstances around him. Coordinator turnover, offensive line injuries, fluctuating target shares with Brown in the picture. None of it has stopped him from being one of the most reliable pass catchers in the game.

Louis Riddick said it well on ESPN, noting that Smith “has been a guy who always has thrived in the spotlight” and arguing that despite thriving there, he never gets the recognition the other stars receive. Even Terrell Owens chimed in recently, saying that if you put Smith on any other roster, he’s capable of being a team’s No. 1 receiver.

I think Smith is the most underrated receiver in the league. It’s not even close. He does everything you want from a Philadelphia athlete. He shows up, works, produces, and he doesn’t create drama. The guy just goes out and plays football at an extremely high level, and for whatever reason, the national media continues to overlook him.

This season changes the conversation

Here’s what I think happens. Smith is going to have a monster year in 2026. I think it’s going to be his best season in the NFL. With a more creative offensive scheme, with Dallas Goedert back in the fold, and with the potential for Smith to command an even larger target share with A.J. Brown out of the equation, Smitty is set up for a massive year.

And I would almost guarantee that when ESPN puts out this same list next offseason, DeVonta Smith will be in the top 10. He’s going to prove everybody wrong, just like he’s done at every single level of football since he was the skinny kid winning the Heisman Trophy at Alabama.

The No. 22 ranking is disrespectful, plain and simple. But if we know anything about Smitty, it’s that he uses this kind of stuff as fuel.