Philadelphia Eagles' second-year pass rusher Nolan Smith is making waves in the NFL, and his postseason dominance is putting him in elite company. At just 24 years old, Smith has already doubled the combined career playoff sack total of All-Pro superstars TJ Watt and Micah Parsons—an astonishing feat that highlights his rapid rise to stardom.
Smith, a former first-round pick, entered the league with high expectations, but few anticipated just how quickly he would make an impact on the grandest stage. His ability to perform in high-pressure playoff games has set him apart from other elite defenders, proving that he has the potential to surpass some of the league’s biggest defensive stars.
While both TJ Watt and Micah Parsons have established themselves as dominant forces in the regular season, neither has been able to translate that same level of success into the playoffs. Watt, a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, has terrorized quarterbacks for years but has struggled to produce game-changing plays in the postseason.
Parsons, one of the most dynamic defenders in the league, has also yet to leave a significant playoff imprint.
Meanwhile, Nolan Smith is already rewriting the script. With double the career playoff sacks of Watt and Parsons combined, he has shown that when the lights shine the brightest, he elevates his game.
For a player so young to accomplish this is a testament to his elite pass-rushing ability, football IQ, and relentless motor.
What makes Smith’s early success even more impressive is that he has done it against top-tier competition in must-win situations.
Playoff football is a different beast, with tighter defenses and offenses that emphasize protecting the quarterback. Yet, Smith has managed to break through and rack up sacks at a rate that leaves even the most established stars in his shadow.
While some may argue that a small playoff sample size doesn’t tell the whole story, the numbers don’t lie. Smith is proving that he has the potential to be one of the league’s next great defenders.
If he continues on this trajectory, he could soon be mentioned in the same breath as Watt and Parsons—not just as a rising star, but as a superior talent.
It’s still early in Smith’s career, but the trajectory he’s on suggests that he could surpass the greatness of Watt and Parsons. Both Watt and Parsons have racked up individual accolades and dominant regular-season performances, but championships and postseason impact are what define legacies.
If Smith continues to elevate his game in the playoffs while maintaining consistency in the regular season, he has a legitimate chance to carve out a greater legacy than either of them. Superstars are measured by how they perform when it matters most, and Smith is already proving that he thrives under pressure.
The Eagles have built a defensive powerhouse, and Smith is quickly becoming a cornerstone of their future. With an elite supporting cast around him and a team that is consistently in the playoff mix, he will have plenty of opportunities to keep adding to his postseason sack total.
While Watt and Parsons will continue to dominate the regular season and chase their own playoff success, Smith is already ahead in an area that matters most—performing in the clutch. If his early success is any indication of what’s to come, the NFL may be witnessing the rise of its next defensive superstar.
