It’s hard to not be excited and intrigued by the prospect of DeVonta Smith taking over as the Eagles’ WR1.

One person who’s not excited or intrigued? DeVonta Smith.

“I mean, I’m just going out there and do my job,” he said after OTA practice Tuesday. “Regardless, however you want to look at it, one, two, three, four. End of the day, we all have jobs, and I’ve got to go out there and do it. I’m going to do the same thing I’ve been doing.”

Regardless of how Smith is looking at this, with A.J. Brown gone, Smith will indeed assume the role of the Eagles’ No. 1 wide receiver.

He held that role in 2021, the year before Brown arrived, and had 64 catches for 916 yards and five touchdowns, but he was a rookie playing under a 1st-year head coach.

Smith is now entering his sixth season, and even though he’s got three 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, this is a new role for the 27-year-old former 1st-round pick.

Despite his own accomplishments, to a great extent Smith has spent the last four years in Brown’s shadow. Brown’s got the Pro Bowls, Brown’s got the all-pros. Smith has just been a very consistent, reliable, clutch wide receiver.

Now we’ll get to see what he can do with presumably another 40 or so targets.

“He’s always been a number one receiver,” Jordan Mailata said. “Nothing has changed for Smitty. 

“Smitty’s always led from the front. So that narrative, we can shut that down now because Smitty’s always led from the front. And just because he never wore that captain’s patch the last two years, didn’t mean that he wasn’t a captain in the locker room. But he always led from the front. 

“And that’s why I’m calling it now. When he wears that captain’s patch this year, there’s no surprise. He’s always been a captain in my eyes, just from the way he’s led, the way he’s always gone about his business on and off the field.”

Sounds like Mailata was predicting that Smith would be a team captain for the first time this year.

It would be deserving. Nobody on the current roster has started more games as an Eagle than Smith, who’s tied with Jalen Hurts with 78 starts. 

He’s quiet, but he leads by example with his preparation, his work ethic, his professionalism, his approach.

“Yeah, he’s great, man,” Quinyon Mitchell said. “He won the Heisman, he’s a 1st-round pick, he comes in and always does his job. So he’s going to be great (as No. 1).”

Smith rejects the title of No. 1 receiver because he knows his role could change depending on how the offense is attacking and depending on the opponent.

There will be weeks Makai Lemon or Dontayvion Wicks may get more targets than he does. That’s OK. He’s not going to demand a trade if he’s not the focus of the offense every week.

“I’m just going out there to do my job, whatever that may be for the week that we’re playing,” he said. “Whoever we’re playing, whatever the job may be for that week. I’m just trying to go out there and do that.” 

Smith was muted in his praise for new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and his scheme, only because everything is still so new and the Eagles are just through five OTA practices.

“You have to get the reps,” he said. “And right now, everybody’s still trying to get the flow of the offense, kind of still learning. So once we get that and then we start getting the flow, things will start clicking.”

How consistent has Smith been as a pro?

He’s one of only four players with at least 60 catches, 800 yards and four touchdown catches in each of the last five seasons. His 436 career receptions including postseason are 13th-most in NFL history by a player through Year 5. His 5,684 yards are 10th-most in the NFL since 2021.

Now consider everything he’s accomplished so far and factor in the increased production we all expect as he graduates to the No. 1 spot and it’s scary to think just how good he can be. 

Smith’s 5,684 yards are the most in NFL history by a player through five seasons who never made a Pro Bowl.

If he keeps doing what he’s been doing, the honors and recognition will come.

“I think every year you want to be better than you were the last one,” he said. “There’s always going to be things you want to improve on.”