Devonta Smith on the #2 is definitely a possibility. If you think he's a great player likely to stand out in the NFL, well that is what a premium pick is made for. I think the Jets are more likely to trade down but if they have a higher grade on Smith than any of the other WR's they very well could pull the trigger at #2.
I've just finished checking WRs in detail, game by game. If we could move to 4 and still get Smith it would be incredible. IMO Smith is the most valuable player in this draft hands down.
i agree about Horn - that would be a good pick at #23 - an instant starter at CB and a position of need. In regards to Smith would you feel better if the Jets traded down and took him at say #4 or #5?
No chance smith at 2, not a scheme fit. Toney from Florida is a wr to watch for the Jets. 2 will be traded or a qb
Yes, but I'm not crazy about Smith. He had a great Heisman campaign but everyone is pumping up his stock because of the National Championship. Numbers aside, that OSU defense didn't even know where Smith was lining up on the field. He was 10 yards open every single play, that won't happen in the NFL.
The thing that has people hyped about Smith is that every time he had a chance to step up at the collegiate level he did. That's one of the hallmarks of a truly great player - when given the opportunity you come through and make it look easy. The guy was like the 4th best WR at Alabama his freshman year and yet he was the guy who caught the national championship winning pass in OT that year. Then in 2018 as a sophomore with Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle and Henry Ruggs III on the same team he caught 42 passes and 6 TD's. With the other talent at WR he shouldn't have even seen the field but Nick Saban thought he was good enough to take snaps away from that amazing assemblage of talent. No injuries there either, Smith made it on the field on the merits. 2019 and all of those guys *still* on the team and Smith catches 68 balls and 14 TD's leading the team in TD receptions. 2020 Jeudy and Ruggs III gone in the draft. Waddle gets hurt game 6. Devonta Smith steps it up and catches 117 balls and 23 TD's. I'll tell you truthfully, I have no idea how good Smith will be in the pros but at Alabama he was the best performing WR on the roster and he was playing with a bunch of 5 stars on the field next to him. You could make an argument that given his circumstances and opportunities he was one of the top 10 college receivers of all time.
I don’t disagree with your take at all. Smith was fantastic all season long, I’m not going to try to take that away from him. Maybe NFL teams viewed it differently all year long, but up to the National Championship Game, Smith was projected to be selected at back end of the top 10, maybe a low teens pick. Now because of one game where there was no defensive gameplan, he’s projected to go #2. No thank you. If they want Smith then you trade the pick with Atlanta, Cinci, or Carolina. If the Dolphins take Smith, we’d get Chase or vice versa.
The argument against Smith being top tier talent was that he was doing what he was doing against a background of stars. 2020 the stars all fell from the sky and he had one of the best seasons a college receiver has ever had in an environment in which everything was on the line on every play as Alabama pursued a national championship. It's just really hard to argue that he is not one of the top talents in the 2021 draft. I understand why people want to trade down because *I* want to trade down however if the Jets chose to take Smith on the #2 I'd figure that JD knew what he was doing. Just a minor follow up: If the Jets took Devonta Smith on the #2 and Mac Jones on the #23 I might not agree with the picks entirely but I would understand exactly what they were trying to do.
Before the NCG Smith was projected anywhere from 4-7. Most had him going at 5 to CInn or at 6 to Phily. After the NCG Smith started being projected at 3 with Miami. This is the first I've seen him projected at 2 with us. But that's what happens when a player almost single handedly wins the National Championship in the first half.
I’m pretty sure they’ll gonna stick with Darnold and upgrade his supporting cast. Therefore my guess is they will be entertaining trade down options. I like Smith but agree with NYJforever - while he had a great season and is a terrific athlete - he may be a product of his system. If the Jets traded down and took him later then so be it. If the Jets can’t find the right deal and stay put ( and don’t take a QB ) the pick will probably be Chase.
Smith isn't the product of any system - he is a system of destruction all on his own. If the Jets took Chase at 2 then JDs stock would plummet.
