Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith came to the defense of his quarterback, Jalen Hurts, after former teammate Darius Slay seemingly left Hurts out of the conversation among the NFL’s elite. In a recent appearance on the “Pick a Side” podcast, Slay listed his top four quarterbacks—and Hurts wasn’t one of them.
“For me, the elite quarterbacks are the top four guys,” Slay said. “That’s Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen. Those are the elites.”
In true 2025 fashion, Smith responded through his own podcast appearance, joining NBA legend Carmelo Anthony on “7PM In Brooklyn” to share his thoughts.
“Slay said it’s the ‘Big 4,’ but for me, it’s the ‘Big 5,’ and Jalen’s definitely in that five,” Smith said. “The four guys he mentioned plus Jalen—that’s my ‘Big 5.’ I don’t think there’s a ‘Big 4.’”
Of all the quarterbacks in the NFL, Hurts has shown a remarkable ability to tune out criticism and stay composed—whether it’s coming from opponents or even former teammates.
Hurts in Rare Air Among NFL QBs Historically
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith came to the defense of his quarterback, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, after former teammate Darius Slay seemed to snub Hurts in a recent interview. Slay left Hurts off his list of top NFL quarterbacks during an appearance on the “Pick a Side” podcast.
“For me, the elite quarterbacks are the top four guys,” Slay said. “Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen—that’s the elite group.”
In classic 2025 fashion, Smith offered his response on another podcast, joining NBA legend Carmelo Anthony on “7PM In Brooklyn.”
“Slay called it the ‘Big 4,’ but for me, it’s the ‘Big 5,’ and Jalen’s part of that five,” Smith said. “The four names he mentioned plus Jalen. That’s my five. I don’t think it’s a ‘Big 4’ at all.”
Hurts, known for his composure and steady leadership, has always had a knack for tuning out criticism—whether it comes from outside voices or those closer to home.
Slay Released Following Super Bowl Win
Slay, now 34, was released by the Eagles on March 12 and quickly found a new home, signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers later that same day.
Although Slay didn’t record an interception during the regular season for the first time since his rookie campaign with the Detroit Lions in 2013, he delivered when it mattered most. In four postseason games en route to a Super Bowl victory, he tallied 14 tackles, 5 pass breakups, and an interception.
For many teams, Slay would be an obvious choice to retain, but the Eagles deemed him expendable thanks to the presence of two rising stars at cornerback—Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, both considered among the league’s best young talents.
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