Eagles rookie report card: DeVonta Smith hits the century mark

Keeping tabs on Philly’s 2022 NFL Draft class.

Despite putting up a fight against the Chiefs, the Eagles dropped their third straight game. Even with the loss, the team should take solace in the fact that key rookies stepped up in what felt like a must-win game.

DeVonta Smith: A

DeVonta Smith had his first 100 yard receiving yard receiving game in the NFL. The first of many, no doubt. The Eagles rookie looked confident running routes, attacking the football and breaking tackles after the catch. Smith had a few very impressive sideline catches. Also worth noting Smith caught a touchdown that got wiped out by, honestly, a bullsh*t call by the refs.

DeVonta Smith needed a bounce-back game after his production dipped the last two weeks. Everyone should be encouraged by the performance the 10th overall pick put on today.

Landon Dickerson: B

Landon Dickerson’s first game as a starter did not go well last week. This week, Dickerson was thrown another curve ball when he was moved from right guard to left guard. Despite the move and the Eagles fielding a brand new offensive line combination, Dickerson looked fairly comfortable playing guard.

Play calling was definitely geared towards alleviating some pressure on the line, but Dickerson looked really solid coming downhill as a run blocker and generally held his own as a pass blocker.

It was clearly a huge step in the right direction for the rookie lineman and hopefully he can continue to find his groove and improve.

Milton Williams: C-

Milton Williams was fine when he was on the field, but he has yet to make any impact beyond just being “okay.” It is not the worst thing in the world, but in a game where the Eagles desperately needed dynamic play on defense, Williams was mostly just taking up space.

Zech McPhearson: N/A

McPhearson couldn’t get on the field because there was no punting in this game.

Kenneth Gainwell: A+

Kenny G has arrived. The Eagles’ rookie running back has fully integrated himself as a key to the offense. Gainwell lined up all over the field for the Eagles and caught a ton of passes out wide and out of the backfield. Critically, Gainwell was targeted on third and fourth down several times, converting on every target. Gainwell chipped in a score on a red zone carry in the second half.

Gainwell is a really solid route runner and dynamic after the catch, making him one of the more valuable players in the Eagles offense. Expect his workload to maintain as long as he is in the line up.

Marlon Tuipulotu: N/A

Healthy scratch.

Tarron Jackson: C

Saw some time in the defensive line rotation but failed to make a meaningful impact.

Patrick Johnson: C

It is curious that Patrick Johnson did not see much time in the lineup today. Maybe it’s because the Eagles were not using the 3-4 look as much as they have in previous weeks.

However, at some point the team has to give him a shot playing linebacker in place of Eric Wilson or Alex Singleton. The Eagles linebacker play is a key in how poorly the defense has performed.

Jack Stoll: N/A

Was barely in the lineup.