One of the most key members of Alabama's 2020 national championship triumph has found a new home.

DeVonta Smith has been selected 10th overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Philadelphia gave up a third round pick to trade up from the 12th pick with the Dallas Cowboys to the 10th pick to select Smith.

Philadelphia jumped two spots to get ahead of their division rival New York Giants, who were potentially expected to select Smith if he fell there.
Now, Howie Roseman not only lands an amazing talent in Smith and reunites him with Jalen Hurts, but he also keeps a star player from going to a team they play twice a year.
Smith immediately will help to fill the biggest need on the Eagles roster at wide receiver. While Hurts showed promise in starts towards to end of his rookie year, it was clear he did not have a strong enough offense around him in order.
After making the surely incredibly difficult decision to forgo the 2020 NFL Draft and elect to return to school for his senior year and continue to develop, it certainly appears to have paid off for Smith.
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With an extremely deep 2020 receiver class including two other first round picks from his own school in Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs, the "Slim Reaper" elected to chase another national championship while continuing to raise his own draft stock.

Smith did that and so much more in 2020. He was absurdly dominant and at most times was simply unstoppable.

In his legendary campaign that ended in him hoisting both a Heisman and a national championship, Smith averaged an absurd 142.8 yards per game, while totaling both the single season SEC records for receiving yards (1,856) and receiving touchdowns (23).

Smith's legacy at Alabama goes far beyond what he accomplished in 2020 however. He leaves Tuscaloosa not just as arguably the greatest receiver in Alabama's storied history, but as the all time career SEC receiving yards leader as well with a mind boggling 3,965 yards. He has undoubtedly staked his claim as one of the greatest receivers in college football history.

Perhaps Smith will most be remembered for is helping to bring home a national championship as a freshman in 2017. Laying the ground work for a career full of clutch moments, Smith caught the winning touchdown from Tua Tagovailoa in overtime of the national championship against the Georia Bulldogs.

Smith is without a doubt right up there with the best to ever do it both at Alabama and in college football as a whole. Now Smith will have to translate his game to an NFL gridiron as well, and while nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, Smith is already off to a good start.

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