Three seasons into an NFL career, most first-round picks have already told Philadelphia Eagles fans who they are. Some are obvious stars. Others settle into supporting roles.
A few of those first-round picks will start slow or maybe even disappoint entirely. The evaluation may continue, but the broad outline is usually clear.
We enter year four, and the jury is still out on Nolan Smith. The Eagles have seen enough from him to believe there is a high-level player beneath the surface. They've also seen enough inconsistency to know the conversation isn't settled. That uncertainty is what makes Smith one of the most fascinating players on the roster entering 2026. For every stretch that hinted at a breakout, another obstacle seemed to appear.
He was
never fully healthy as a rookie. A torn triceps suffered during Super Bowl LIXaltered the trajectory of his momentum. Although he famously finished the game, the injury lingered well beyond the championship celebration. He appeared in only 12 games last season and never consistently resembled the disruptive pass rusher who had become such an important piece of Philadelphia's defense during the second half of 2024.
That's why this summer feels different. Not because Smith suddenly developed new pass-rush moves or transformed physically. The difference is far simpler. For the first time in a long time, he's healthy. The immediate questions surrounding Smith need even more immediate answers. This is the final season of his rookie contract. The Eagles have already invested three years into his development, and decisions about the future of their pass rush will soon require answers.
The questions about Nolan Smith have a chance at being answered
Can Smith become a long-term building block? Do the Eagles now favor Jalyx Hunt? Can he consistently produce over a full season? Can he stay on the field?
Those questions remain unresolved. The encouraging news for Philadelphia is that Smith has looked increasingly like the player who broke out during the Super Bowl run. Practice reports throughout have regularly highlighted his ability to generate pressure, and he turned heads during the Eagles' open practice at Lincoln Financial Field when he beat Lane Johnson for a would-be sack.
More importantly, he has looked explosive, active, and comfortable playing the aggressive style that helped make him a first-round selection. The competition around him only raises the stakes. Jalyx Hunt has enjoyed an outstanding camp. Jonathan Greenard's return will eventually reshape the rotation. Opportunities will be earned rather than handed out.
For Smith, that's probably a good thing. The Eagles don't need him to win every battle in August. They don't need him to become a 15-sack player overnight. What they need is something much simpler and far more important: evidence.
For years, injuries have complicated the evaluation. Now the excuses and caveats are disappearing. The open practice provided more evidence. Health has finally given Nolan Smith a fresh opportunity, and with his future hanging in the balance, the Eagles may finally discover exactly who he is. Signs point to the potential for a phenomenal campaign, one where he starts and may stay in that position when Jonathan Greenard returns, until the latter can get healthy.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Health may finally allow Nolan Smith to answer lingering questions
