As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare for training camp in Indianapolis, attention remains squarely on wide receiver DeVonta Smith and the role he will play in the team’s revamped offense. Despite ongoing speculation about A.J. Brown’s future with the Eagles, Smith—who is under contract through 2026—continues to emerge as a key weapon under offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. Last season, Smith surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the third time, signaling his growing importance in the Eagles’ passing attack.
Potential for Growth Under Sean Mannion’s Offensive Strategy
Entering his fifth season with the Eagles, Smith appears poised to elevate his game even further as the team transitions to a Shanahan/McVay-style offense led by Mannion. Head coach Nick Sirianni expressed optimism about Smith’s trajectory during the NFL scouting combine, emphasizing that the receiver has not yet reached his full potential.
“Oh, no,” Sirianni said.
“No, I think he continually gets better. I think you saw him have a great year this year. And even when a guy appears not to have as good a year, you’re always looking at it like, ‘Is his arrow on the rise? Is his arrow on the fall?’ And even if a guy doesn’t have his best year, he still can be on the rise. Well, I think we saw DeVonta have a great year, and I think you just continue to see him play better and better.”
Highlighting Smith’s resilience and talent, Sirianni added,
“And I think that’s a tribute to who he is. Guys that are tough, that love football, that are smart football players and they’re talented, have a tendency to reach their ceiling, God willing. And I think that’s what you’re seeing. You’re seeing him continue to get better. You’re seeing him continue to do these things and make plays only that he can make on the football field. And so I just think you continue to see him on the rise and excited about what he’ll look like in this new offense that we’ll have.”
Examining Smith’s Usage and Target Opportunities
Smith led the Eagles in receiving yards in the 2025 season, edging out Brown by five yards despite being targeted eight fewer times. His 77 receptions that year marked the third-lowest total of his career, leaving room for speculation about an expanded role in the offense moving forward. Sirianni highlighted the importance of providing Smith with consistent opportunities to impact the game, without setting rigid targets.
“Getting DeVonta Smith the ball and getting him targets is always going to be important, as long as he’s an Eagle, to the success of our football team,”
Sirianni said.
“And so it’s just the way the season goes, the way the flow of a game goes. It’s important that he’s seeing targets every game, because he does good things when he gets those things. So I don’t ever want to say, ‘Hey, this is the number. He needs to have this many targets.’ He needs to be able to affect the game each game and that number can change each game, each year based off of that.”
Adjustments in the Running Game Under Mannion’s Scheme
Alongside shifts in the passing attack, the Eagles’ rushing strategy is also set to evolve in 2026. Mannion’s offense embraces a wide-zone blocking scheme, which contrasts with the approach previously installed by offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. This change may require significant adaptation from players, particularly running back Saquon Barkley.
Barkley, 29, experienced a standout 2024 with 2,005 rushing yards before a slight regression last season when he still managed to exceed 1,000 rushing yards for the fifth time in his career. Sirianni expressed confidence that Barkley will quickly acclimate to the new system once training resumes in the spring.
“My experience with great football players is, you come in and you’re like, ‘Hey, Saquon, we’re going to run inside zone.’ He’s going to be really good at it. ‘Hey, we’re going to run gap schemes.’ He’s going to be really good at it. ‘Hey, we’re going to run wide zone.’ He’s going to be really good at it. ‘Hey, we’re going to run the option.’ He’s going to be really good at it. ‘Hey, we’re going to split you out wide.’ He’s just a great football player. And so guys that are great football players can fit into a lot of different offenses.”
Sirianni elaborated,
“And Saquon, regardless of the scheme, I think you saw that in some of the things that we’ve done, he’s been highly productive in many of the schemes, whether it’s gap schemes, whether it’s inside zones, whether it’s pin-and-pulls, whether it’s toss-cracks, every one of these things, I’m picturing him breaking a big run off on that. And so that’s a common theme with good football players. They can fit into a lot of different schemes. So I believe he’ll be exceptional at that.”
Outlook for Smith and the Eagles’ Offensive Evolution
As the Philadelphia Eagles approach the 2026 season, DeVonta Smith’s increased involvement within Sean Mannion’s offense could mark a crucial step forward for the team’s passing game. With Smith’s proven ability to rack up yardage and produce big plays, combined with the adjustments expected in the running game led by Barkley, the Eagles aim to build a more dynamic and versatile attack.
Smith’s ongoing development and adaptability will be essential to the Eagles’ offensive success, especially amid uncertainties surrounding other key players. As training camp unfolds in Indianapolis, how the coaching staff integrates Smith into their evolving schemes will likely play a significant role in the team’s performance and aspirations for the upcoming NFL season.
