Eagles Want to Pair Jameson Williams with DeVonta Smith

Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams said on Wednesday the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to pair him with former Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Philadelphia own picks 15 and 18 in the first round.

"They told me they would love to see me alongside DeVonta,” said Williams. “I think that would be an explosive offense and something nobody has seen before.”

The Eagles would be the second team in the common draft era to use a first round pick on a wide receiver for three straight years.

Smith and Williams both put together prolific All-American seasons wearing the Crimson and White. As a senior in 2020, Smith reeled in 117 receptions for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns and became the first wide receiver since 1991 to win the Heisman trophy. Williams caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021.

A selection of Williams would give Philadelphia four former Alabama players on offense, including Smith, Jalen Hurts and Landon Dickerson.

The Eagles have struggled to develop receivers outside of Smith in recent memory. Jalen Reagor, a first round pick in 2020 has failed to reach 400 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons and JJ Arcega-Whiteside, a second round pick in 2019 has caught 16 passes for 290 yards and one touchdown in three seasons.

Williams would be another dynamic playmaker for Hurts, who enters a critical third season in the NFL. The 23-year old signal caller led the Eagles to the playoffs this past season, but his future as the starting quarterback will be dependent on his performance this season.

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The 2022 NFL draft begins on Thursday, April 28 from Las Vegas.