Philadelphia, PA – June 15, 2025
It was only OTAs, but for the Washington Commanders, the embarrassment was very real — and the Philadelphia Eagles’ top receiving duo made sure of it.
According to multiple team sources, the dominant performances of DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown during recent joint practice reps were so overwhelming that two Commanders cornerbacks — Michael Davis and Benjamin St-Juste — were released shortly after. The timing was no coincidence.
“They just couldn’t hang,” one NFC East scout told Fast Philly Sports. “Smith and Brown made them look lost out there.”
Observers at the sessions reported that Smith repeatedly burned defenders with surgical route-running while Brown physically bullied his way through press coverage — even making a contested grab over St-Juste that drew gasps from both sidelines. Davis was reportedly “turned around more than once” in man coverage drills.
“You don’t see this kind of domination in May,” one insider added. “The Eagles receivers are already in midseason form.”
The aftermath was swift. Commanders staffers held internal discussions about cornerback depth and made the decision to move on from both veterans. While team officials framed the moves as “roster optimization,” the reality is hard to ignore — Smith and Brown torched their secondary so badly that heads rolled.
This only fuels the growing belief that the Eagles’ receiving corps may be the league’s most dangerous in 2025. With Jalen Hurts now entering his prime, and Saquon Barkley pulling defenders into the box, Smith and Brown could see more one-on-one matchups — something no defensive coordinator should welcome.
“They’re going to make a lot of guys look bad this year,” a rival defensive coach told Bleeding Green Nation. “Some might even lose jobs because of it.”
For the Commanders, it’s a wake-up call. For the Eagles, it’s just another reminder that they’re built not only to contend — but to humiliate opponents before the real games even begin.
