Where Will Devonta Smith Go In The NFL Draft?

It’s NFL Draft season, and everyone wants to know where former Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith will end up. Here are the latest rumors and predictions.

Introduction

Devonta Smith is widely considered to be one of the best wide receivers in the NCAA. He’s got good size, great speed, and is an incredible route runner. So where will he go in the 2021 NFL Draft?

There are a few schools of thought on this. Some believe that he’ll go in the top 10, while others believe that he could slide into the late first round or early second round.

One thing is for sure: whoever ends up drafting Devonta Smith is going to be very happy with their new wide receiver.

Devonta Smith’s College Career

Devonta Smith is one of the best wide receivers in the country and is coming off of a National Championship victory with Alabama. He is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at his college career.

Highlights

As a junior, Smith became the first wide receiver in Alabama history to be named a unanimous first-team All-American, and he was also named the winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is awarded annually to the nation’s best receiver.

In his three seasons at Alabama, Smith caught 231 passes for 3,463 yards and 46 touchdowns. He had 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior, setting an Alabama single-season record.

Awards

In 2017, Smith was a unanimous first-team All-American, becoming the first freshman receiver to do so in the history of college football. He also became only the fourth wide receiver to be named a unanimous All-American. He was a consensus SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s best receiver. In addition, he was named SEC Offensive Player of the week three times (weeks 3, 7, 10).

Devonta Smith’s NFL Draft Profile

Devonta Smith is one of the top prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is a wide receiver out of Alabama. Devonta Smith is 6’1″, 175 pounds. He ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine.

Strengths

As a route runner, Smith is peerless in this class. maybe the best of all time. He’s unbelievable at making contested catches and can win anywhere on the field. His release package is great, as he has a ton of different ways to get open. He also has fantastic body control and can contort himself to make any catch.

Weaknesses

The biggest knock on Smith’s game is his size. He’s listed at 6-1 and 175 pounds, but some believe he could be closer to 6-0 and 170 pounds. Either way, he’s undersized for an NFL receiver. That’s not necessarily a death sentence, but it does present some challenges.

First, Smith will likely struggle to beat press coverage at the NFL level. He doesn’t have the size or strength to consistently beat physical cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage. Second, his lack of size could limit his ability to make contested catches in traffic. Smith is an outstanding route runner with great hands, but he may not be able to win many 50-50 balls in the NFL.

Finally, Smith’s undersized frame makes him a bit more susceptible to injuries than bigger receivers. He missed time in 2019 with a hamstring injury and dealt with a nagging ankle injury during Alabama’s 2020 playoff run.

NFL Teams That Could Use Devonta Smith

The 2020 Heisman Trophy winner, Devonta Smith, is one of the most talented wide receivers in the upcoming NFL Draft. He is a playmaker who can excel in any offense. In this article, we will be taking a look at the NFL teams that could use Devonta Smith’s services.

Jacksonville Jaguars

With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in a great position to select Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith.

Smith is widely considered to be the best wide receiver in this year’s draft class, and would be an instant upgrade for a Jaguars passing offense that ranked 28th in the NFL last season.

While Smith would be a great fit with any NFL team, here are three reasons why he would be especially valuable to the Jaguars:

1. The Jaguars need more playmakers on offense.

With the departure of wide receiver Dede Westbrook and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins this offseason, the Jaguars are in need of more playmakers on offense. Smith would immediately become one of the team’s top targets, and his ability to make plays after the catch would be a welcomed addition.

2. The Jaguars need help at wide receiver.

Even with the addition of wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., the Jaguars still need help at the position. Smith would give quarterback Gardner Minshew II another reliable target to throw to, and his presence would take some of the pressure off of Jones and fellow wideout DJ Chark Jr.

3. The Jaguars want to add weapons for Minshew II.
The Jaguars have made it clear that they are committed to Minshew II as their franchise quarterback, and they have said that they want to add weapons around him. Smith would certainly qualify as a weapon, and his ability to stretch the field would be a perfect complement to Minshew’s strengths as a passer.

New York Jets

Devonta Smith would be an excellent addition to any NFL team, but there are a few teams that could use him more than others. The New York Jets are one of those teams. The Jets have been looking for a wide receiver to complement star receiver Jamison Crowder for years and Devonta Smith would be the perfect fit.

Devonta Smith is not only a great receiver, but he is also a superb route runner. He would be able to create separation from defenders and make contested catches look easy. His addition would instantly make the Jets offense one of the most dangerous in the NFL.

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have the eighth overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. They used their first-round pick last year on Derrick Brown, and though he had a solid rookie season, they could still use another big body inside to help stop the run. With so many teams looking for quarterbacks early in the draft, the Panthers could have their choice of defensive linemen when they’re on the clock.

One player they may be considering is Alabama’s Devonta Smith. Smith is coming off a historic season in which he won the Heisman Trophy and helped lead Alabama to a national championship. He’s an explosive playmaker with terrific hands and route-running ability. The Panthers could use him as a WR2 opposite D.J. Moore, or they could even move Moore to the slot and make Smith their WR1.

Smith would be a great fit in Carolina’s offense, and he would give quarterback Teddy Bridgewater another weapon to work with. The Panthers will have to decide if they want to draft him or another defensive lineman, but either way, they should be able to find a good player at eighth overall.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is most likely that Devonta Smith will be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. However, where he will be drafted exactly is still unknown. It will be interesting to see how his career unfolds in the NFL.