Eagles' A.J. Brown: Playing with DeVonta Smith takes 'pressure off each other'

Shortly after the Philadelphia Eagles acquired star wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans during the 2022 NFL Draft in April, fellow Philadelphia receiver and 2021 rookie DeVonta Smith admitted he was "excited" to learn from his new teammate. 

Brown spoke with reporters on Friday and let it be known he's also hyped, but more so because the pair can provide nightmares for opposing defenses beginning in September. 

"It takes the pressure off the other guy," Brown said of the two of them, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "Say we’re playing [the Eagles defense], I’d probably take [Darius] Slay, because he’s cornerback No. 1 and I’d go against him. And that gives another really talented receiver [the chance] to go against a cornerback No. 2. So it takes pressure [off]. In my opinion, Smitty is a wide receiver 1, and he’s going against a cornerback No. 2, I expect Smitty to dominate, you know?

"So, just taking pressure off each other. And even being on the same side, so you can’t really double — that’s great having another great wideout beside you." 

Smith enjoyed a solid debut pro season and, according to ESPN stats, finished the campaign with team-highs of 64 receptions, 104 targets, 916 receiving yards and five touchdown grabs. The 23-year-old is hardly a finished product, of course, and Brown added that both he and the second-year pro have "little things" to work on during training camp and the preseason. 

As long as Smith puts in that work, he, Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts should all thrive this fall.