NFL Draft 2011: Comparing This Year's Stars To Recent Draftees
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
If there is one thing that the NFL Draft is good at, it's lumping players into certain categories and trying to draw comparisons between them and past players—good and bad.
When drafting, teams are taking a risk that the performance they saw in college will translate into the pros in a relatively short amount of time, if not immediately.
The best way that analysts and scouts have to make their points, fair or not, is to draw parallels between the prospect on the field and past success stories or failures.
This is why so many little things about the combine and pre-draft workouts get so hyper-analyzed. No team wants to waste any picks, especially in the first few rounds, and using comparisons is one way to do it.
So get your stopwatch out and start taking notes.
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Green Has The Skills To Be Great In The NFL
A.J. Green has not been getting the kind of attention you would think a top wide receiver prospect should be getting.
Like most drafts the last few years, the quarterbacks get all the glory and Green is left to wonder which Ohio team is going to draft him.
Sidney Rice was drafted in the second round, so Green should get his ticket punched a little sooner than Rice did, but they both had sizzling college careers from early on and they are almost identical in height and build.
Rob Rang of NFLDraftscout.com points this out in an ESPN interview.
"A.J. Green is taller and has better playing speed," said Rang. "Even when he is covered, he is still open because the kid just makes catches. It's like Larry Fitzgerald, Sidney Rice, Randy Moss--they go up in the air and they can soar over everyone else and catch the football. They win those one-on-one battles. That is what he does. He just has phenomenal hands."
Green's hands and ability to soar not only draw comparisons to Rice, they get him the attention that puts him at the top of the draft.
Green will be a great receiver, of that I have little doubt at this point. He does not seem to be plagued by the kinds of ego problems that are not helping the careers of Michael Crabtree and Dez Bryant.
Green is "safe" of a pick as you can find in a wide receiver in the first round, and if his career mirrors that of Rice, the fans of whatever team he ends up with will be very happy.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
Solder Has All The Tools and Gallery Really Has Had A Decent Career
Nate Solder has had a great year so far. His 2010 season was good and he could be one of the first offensive linemen off the board in this year's draft.
Solder is one of those names that keeps popping up on mock drafts but he does not get the attention the quarterbacks, wide receivers, or even the defensive tackles get.
Solder is a beast on the offensive line. At 6' 8", 319 lbs., he is the size of a hill giant and can be a dominant force in the NFL. A lineman with his size is going to draw comparisons to the Raiders Robert Gallery.
"Solder is not coming into the draft with the hype Gallery did out of Iowa in 2004, but their size and athleticism are remarkably similar," said NFLDraftscout.com. The fact Gallery ended up a guard for the Raiders, even though he's a Pro-Bowl caliber one, can't sit well with teams considering Solder for their open left tackle spot."
This sentiment is gaining momentum as Packers Chatters has an even more scathing look at Solder.
"The more people we have spoken to, the more they agree that he reminds them of current Raiders OL Robert Gallery who was also a tremendous athlete at Iowa, but did not play up to his talent level consistently," writes Russ Lande. "For a player with Solder’s talent his man gets hits on the QB and makes too many tackles vs the run than a top OT allows. We have heard that Solder who was viewed in competition with (Anthony) Castonzo to be the Top OT when the 2010 season ended, has fallen down draft boards to the point where he is now below Castonzo, (Tyron) Smith, (Derek) Sherrod and (Gabe) Carimi."
Solder has a lot of potential, but if he is viewed as more of a project at this point. This does not mean he will not be successful, but it does mean he falls out of the Top 15.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Clayborn Is Going From Top Pick To Underrated Talent
In many scout's eyes, Adrian Clayborn is just not the prospect he used to be. A 2010 campaign that did not produce the kind of numbers anyone wanted to see will do that.
Concerns over Clayborn's ability to adapt to the pro game are rising as he appears to rely on his natural strength to get through lines and get to the quarterback. Being successful in the pros requires a little more than muscle. You have to have technique.
However, NFLDraftscout.com points to Saints linebacker Will Smith as a good role model for Clayborn to look to.
"Teams weren't sure if Smith would be explosive enough a pass rusher to take him high in the draft. Fellow Big Ten star Clayborn faces similar skepticism, but could also use his low center of gravity to be a constant thorn in the side of quarterbacks."
My philosophy on draft picks always has been to watch the tapes. The play on the field is where you learn everything.
NFL Soup agrees with me.
"Simply put, Clayborn is a dominant force in the backfield. He excelled in stopping the run in college, as his combination of a wide frame and great strength made him very tough for offensive linemen to deal with. He’ll never give up on a play, and is deceptively quick for a guy that weighs 285 pounds," states the Web site.
"Clayborn would be at his best as a 3-4 down lineman in the NFL, likely as an end playing in a five technique. One of his greatest assets is his explosiveness off the snap that he often uses to knock linemen off balance. He’s also great at using his hands and his lower body strength to help himself shed blocks.
"Clayborn is a guy that won’t overwhelm you on paper, but his impact on the game is evident when watching him. He’s a consistent nuisance in the backfield, and has both the skills and physique necessary to succeed in the NFL."
I am very high on Clayborn and think he will be good enough to create his own mold. Whether I am right or not remains to be seen.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Nick Fairley May Be The Draft Fall Story Of The Day When Draft Happens
What happened to Nick Fairley?
In one of those bizarre "only happens in the draft build up" kind of stories, Fairley went from being mocked to the Carolina Panthers first overall to pariah.
Keep in mind Fairley has not been arrested, popped up on Youtube in compromising positions, or been linked to Charlie Sheen in any way I am aware of. Yet now he gets compared to Albert Haynesworth.
Two things make this comparison come to life. First, Marcell Dareus kicked Fairley's butt at the Combine; second, Fairley has a reputation for borderline dirty play.
These two things combined to give Fairley the appearance of a poor work ethic and the chance of suspension for dirty play. If those two things do not make you think of Haynesworth, then you are not paying attention.
"Character issues have followed Fairley throughout his career, as well, but perhaps the biggest reason his name has been mentioned in the same sentence as Haynesworth's is because of their propensity for playing dirty football," wrote Michael Blunda of Pro Football Weekly. "Haynesworth's most infamous incident is etched in the minds of most football fans: In '06, he stomped on the head of Cowboys C Andre Gurode—sans helmet—when a play was over, causing a gash that required 30 stitches to close.
"Late hits were a regular part of Fairley's game last season, as he was assessed multiple unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties. But Auburn head coach Gene Chizik called the notion that Fairley was a dirty player "absurd," and at least one NFL general manager agrees (Browns GM Tom Heckert)."
The article goes on to give Fairley a favorable comparison to Ndamukong Suh, but Suh never had this kind of baggage hanging around his head last year. Whoever drafts Fairley will hope to get Suh and not Haynesworth.
When a player like Haynesworth so clearly quits on a team, you never want that kind of person to be within 30 miles of your locker room. One team will find out what kind of player Fairley is in 2011.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Mallett's Character Concerns Raise All Kinds Of Red Flags
Ryan Mallett fans do not like to hear anything bad about their quarterback. This is fine and I welcome the hatred. At the end of the day, Mallett may have a giant arm, but look no farther than Jimmy Clausen to see what an equally giant ego does to personal growth.
Clausen has not had an ideal situation, no one is arguing with that, but just compare him to Colt McCoy, who had an equally unfavorable situation in Cleveland, and you can see why I am down on the guy.
“A lot of teams are scared of him,” ESPN 101 analyst Tony Softli said on Profootballtalk.com. “It’s nothing personal against the kid, but if you watch some of the games, you see his immaturity pop up. … I don’t know if he’s wired right. That’s what’s starting to concern a lot of teams.”
Omar Kelly of the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinal also thinks Mallett is in for a big drop on draft day.
"There could be as many as seven quarterbacks selected in the first two rounds, but Mallett, plagued by concerns about his character and personality, is the wild card of the batch," wrote Kelly. "His stock is falling, much like Jimmy Clausen's did last season before the Panthers selected him late in the second round. Delaware's Pat Devlin, TCU's Andy Dalton and Idaho's Nathan Enderle could be late-round steals."
I have written several pieces about Mallett but went into the Combine with an open mind. Mallett proceeded to be about as arrogant as he could be and dodged every drug allegation question. What Mallett does not realize is, answering a question about drug allegations, no matter how unfounded, by saying, "I never failed a drug test," is going to raise a ton of red flags.
Clausen does not have Mallett's arm strength, so Mallett will have the upper hand there, but Mallett still thinks he is misunderstood and everyone is out to get him.
Another comparison: Derek Anderson.
Anderson has a rocket on his shoulder but no idea what to do with it. He melted down in front of the press in memorable fashion this year and he may be out of chances. Mallett should remember prospects with rocket arms show up every spring. It is what is between the ears that determines whether that arm gets put to good use or not.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Comparisons To Emmit Smith Not Appropriate, So Frank Gore Works Better
Mark Ingram is considered the top running back in this year's draft class, but some people already are trying to draw comparisons between Ingram and Emmit Smith.
Comparing a draft prospect to a Hall of Fame running back is bit forward. This is not to say Ingram can not enter the shrine in Canton 20 years from now, but you just do not throw that kind of comparison around.
Even Ingram agrees with this assessment, as he said in a Detroit Free Press article.
"It's just a comparison," Ingram said. "Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. People get compared all the time, but I don't feel like I'm entitled to live up to being like Emmitt. Of course, I'm going to try to be the best player that I can be, definitely, but take it one step at a time."
Tidesports.com put up Emmit Smith as the comparison to Ingram's talents, and that is fine. The school spirit is going to go overboard, so just Roll Tide.
On to a more palatable comparison, Frank Gore is the guy I would compare Ingram to. Ingram is similar with his build, ran a slightly faster Combine time and had 21 bench press reps compared to Gore's 17, but they have a similar build and running style
NFLDraftscout.com agrees with this.
"Gore's tough inside running style and vision are as close a template to Ingram's game as any modern mortal."
Gore has had a good career although his 2010 season ended early due to injury.
Ingram is a great prospect and Gore is a good role model for Ingram to try and aspire to. Of course, Smith is in the Hall of Fame, but as I said at the beginning, one step at a time.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Quinn Has Had A Year Off And Intangibles Are Not Great
Robert Quinn either will surprise everyone by becoming one of the best defensive ends in the league, or surprise a few people by busting out of the league.
The problem with Quinn is there is no recent game tape on him because of the NCAA suspension for accepting gifts from an agent. The arbitrary and capricious nature of the NCAA means the punishment most likely did not fit the crime, but the reality is what it is.
Then there is the Vernon Gholston comparison I found at NFL Mocks.com, written by Mackenzie Pantoja.
"Robert Quinn is a physical monster with all the tools to succeed in the NFL. He has excellent height, good bulk (268), and excellent speed (4.64 40 yard dash), that could allow him to be a monster in the NFL," wrote Pantoja. "But he really lacks strength, and he appears to have short arms for his size, making it difficult for him to use his hands well to get to the quarterback.
"Quinn has pretty good quickness off the ball and uses pretty effective fundamentals with the speed rush. However, from what I have seen, he has pretty poor instincts and is often caught out of position on misdirections and on play actions."
I have to respectfully disagree with this. Gholston was highly touted coming into the NFL, but he was drafted in the first round by the New York Jets and Eric Mangini. Mangini has whiffed, overdrafted and misread the ability of more than one draft prospect, just look at the Browns 2009 draft class to see how bad of a talent evaluator Mangini is.
Quinn is two inches taller than Gholston and seems to have better skills from a big picture perspective.
What Pantoja does, though, is raise a good point. Gholston looked very good coming into the draft, and after three years, he did not record one sack and the Jets cut him right before the lockout. Whether he gets another chance once normal business resumes is up in the air, but Quinn should have a better career than Gholston did.
Gholston ran a quicker 40-yard dash, but Quinn looks to be more explosive, and I do not believe the 40 time means much here.
The year off is the biggest question mark with Quinn. It could help him or it could hurt him. We will not know until the games begin.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Prince Amukamara Comparisons To Darrelle Revis Appropriate
Prince Amukamara did not have the kind of senior season he wanted to have, but quarterbacks stopped challenging him.
Look at Darrelle Revis. Wherever he is on the field, quarterbacks now try and stay away from him. That alone is a defensive boon because it helps confine where the ball is going. Even if the receiver catches the ball, the defense can try and limit the yards after catch by being in the right area.
NFLDraftscout is proponent of this comparison.
"Both Revis and Amukamara were labeled too tight-hipped to be effective corners at the next level, but it's unlikely teams let Prince fall to the 14th overall selection after his combine performance and the strong start Revis has had to his career."
Amukamara did not have any interceptions in 2010, but his teammates had 19, which tells you the quarterbacks wanted nothing to do with Amukamara.
When Revis is on the field, the sentiment is the same. The quarterback has to make sure he knows where Revis is at all times or suffer the consequences.
Amukamara ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, so his speed backs up the game tape, and it matches the exact same time Revis ran at his Pro Day in his draft year.
So let the Revis comparisons continue, Amukamara is not going to object.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Bob Levey/Getty Images
Julio Jones Gets Comparisons To Two Big Receivers
Julio Jones is considered one of the top two receivers in the draft with A.J. Green, but his red flag is his inconsistent hands.
Jones drops passes, sometimes they are passes he has no business dropping. So cue the Braylon Edwards comparisons.
Edwards has spent most of his career blaming other people and other factors for dropping passes that hit him right between the numbers. His 2010 season was one of his best seasons, but he also was in a contract year, so you have to take that with a grain of salt.
The other comparison, and in my mind this is the better one, is the Houston Texans' Andre Johnson.
Like Johnson, Jones lit up the Combine with his speed, and that speed may mean he goes off the board before A.J. Green.
NFLDraftscout.com agrees that the speed factor is a big one.
"Playmaking 220-pound receivers with sub-4.4 speed are rare breeds, but Jones entered (Andre) Johnson territory with an outstanding combine," the Web site states. "Like Johnson at Miami (Fla.), Jones was inconsistent early in his career but stepped up as a junior to blossom into the star many expected him to become."
Jones only can keep the Johnson comparisons on track by keeping his focus on the field. Edwards is consumed with being popular and branching out into other endeavors off the field because he thinks he is a big star.
Edwards past suggests the 2010 season will not happen in 2011. His only other big year was 2007 and he still led the league in drops.
Johnson does not have that stigma, and Jones can shake his "Dropsies" nametag by having a very good rookie season where he does not drop passes.
Jones has drawn some comparisons to Kellen Winslow Sr., and you can not go wrong with that kind of comparison. Winslow Sr. not only was a great player, he left everything on the field.
Jones did his Combine drills with a broken foot, so the Winslow comparison is an appropriate one. If I am looking for a wide receiver in the first round of the draft, I now start taking Jones more seriously than Green at this point.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Bowers Shows Great Skill, Speed Coming Into the NFL Draft
Da'Quan Bowers is a prospect with a lot of questions at the moment because of his knee. His upcoming workout could answer a lot of those questions.
Bowers has a great skill set and projects as either a top pick or a bust waiting to happen because of his knee problems.
However, on the upside, Bowers could end up being the next Shaun Ellis, per NFLDraftscout.com
"Ellis came out of Tennessee as a thick pass rusher, and eventually his body matured," states the Web site. "He became the perfect fit as a 3-4 five-technique. Bowers, too, could put up double-digit sack totals early in his career from the strong side."
Bowers can move around, performing as an outside linebacker or a defensive end. His red flag is the one-year wonder syndrome, but he really does have a lot of room to grow and improve. He has not plateaued as a player. His 2009 season was marred by injury, so the missed opportunities there have to be taken into account.
Bowers will work better in a 4-3 scheme, which could put him on the Cleveland Browns roster if he falls to No. 6. With the recent questions, that kind of fall is possible, if not farther.
Ellis was an impact player his rookie year and anyone who drafts Bowers will hope for the same kind of performance.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Jake Locker Brings A Lot Of Debate After Sub-Par Senior Season
Jake Locker used to be a draft favorite, but that was before his senior season was not everything anyone wanted it to be.
Locker has a lot of talent, but his accuracy issues raise a ton of red flags. Locker can be successful and he would not be the first quarterback with accuracy issues to succeed in the NFL. NFLDraftscout.com even compares Locker to Donovan McNabb, although I am not sure that is a good thing.
"He has an ideal combination of athleticism, arm strength and intangibles, and Locker, like McNabb, can make the highlight-reel play despite being only a moderately accurate passer," according to the Web site. "If a team is willing to accept the normal growing pains of a young quarterback transitioning to the challenge of dissecting complex defenses and throwing through tight windows, Locker, like McNabb, could wind up a Pro Bowl quarterback."
McNabb is a Pro Bowl quarterback, but he was inconsistent in the playoffs and his work ethic has come under fire in recent years. I always viewed McNabb as a choke artist and Locker does not strike me as that kind of guy.
Locker may have accuracy issues, but he looks like he can handle pressure. McNabb only can handle so much pressure before he crumbles. In retrospect, it is amazing McNabb even was able to get the Eagles to a Super Bowl.
McNabb defenders will come out of the woodwork and try and throw some stats around and I agree the stats do not always back up the "choke artist" label, but the game tape does.
With Locker, you have the tape and you can go back and review how many catchable passes the receivers dropped, how his decision-making skills were and how he progressed through his reads.
During the regular season, McNabb usually was a very good quarterback and the numbers and awards are there to prove it. So if Locker is getting a McNabb comparison, he should take it as a good one and hope he has better success in the postseason.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Josh Freeman's 2010 Season Can Give Hope To Gabbert Fans
Blaine Gabbert could be the first quarterback off the board in this year's draft. Gabbert began shooting up draft boards in November after Jake Locker saw his numbers drop and scouts began looking elsewhere.
The red flags come up because of this and the fact he played in a spread offense, which has become a dirty phrase in the last few years.
Jay Beck of Turfburner.com is enthusiastic about Gabbert, and thinks Josh Freeman's recent success could be an indicator of how Gabbert will do.
"If you're looking for a comparison which may shed some light how Gabbert may do at the next level, look no further than another recent Big 12 QB, Kansas State's Josh Freeman. The two are near clones of each other. From their size (Freeman - 6'6", 250 lbs; Gabbert - 6'4", 234 lbs) to their style of play, to their strengths and weaknesses - it's nearly identical.
"Count me as one who, after watching Freeman at Kansas State, thought he wouldn't have much if any success in the NFL. (I thought Gabbert was better than Freeman in college, but the feeling was/is similar in terms of the NFL) Granted, it's still early in his career, but after a shaky rookie season, he came back to have a rather impressive year for Tampa Bay in 2010. After throwing 18 interceptions as a rookie in ten games, he came back last year and fired 25 touchdowns against only six picks. He completion percentage increased to 61.4% (from 54.5%) and he looks to be somebody the Bucs can start building around."
With two seasons, one shaky, I hesitate to say the comparison is a great one, but with the similar background, it is a fair one. If Freeman can stay consistent and repeat his successful 2010 season, it bodes well for Gabbert.
The transition from a spread offense to the pros can be as easy or difficult as the players and coaches make it. It all comes down to talent, and no one debates Gabbert has a lot of it.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Dareus Is Drawing Comparisons to a Lot of Players In This Draft
Marcell Dareus was considered a first-round pick coming out of the 2010 season, but then the Combine hit.
Dareus is one of those prospects who raised a lot of eyebrows with his performance in Indianapolis. It not only confirmed what the scouts saw on the game tape, it made them think he is capable of being even better at the pro level.
Jody Smith, a writer for Gridiron Experts, draws a lot of comparisons to Dareus' talents.
"Dareus has been favorably compared to 2010 rookie sensation Ndamukong Suh, Richard Seymour, Darnell Dockett, and former No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, Julius Peppers," he wrote.
"Most Scouts and draft experts don’t see a lot of risk in spending an early 2011 NFL Draft selection on Dareus. Some of the limited concerns have been about his relative lack of experience. He started only 15 games in college. A small concern for others was the suspension at the beginning of last year.
Marcell Dareus appears to have all the attributes that NFL teams are looking for in a cornerstone defensive player. He is considered an elite defensive lineman who is pro ready, scheme proof, and with a very low ceiling . . . The only question remaining now seems to be which John Fox coached team will select him…the former one or current one?"
Dareus and fellow draft prospect Nick Fairley also draw some comparisons, but each player will have their own path to follow in the pros.
I like the Dareus comparison with Peppers. Both are freakishly good athletes and both are known to have good work ethics to enhance their natural athleticism. While Dareus is a tackle and Peppers a defensive end, both are big buys who can get through the line and make the play.
Suh might be the better comparison at this point, but Suh only has one season under his belt, granted it was a great one. If Dareus has as good of a season as Suh, the comparisons will become even stronger.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Patrick Peterson Is The Kind Of Talent Who Lives Up To Expectations
All the scouts are saying the same thing when it comes to Patrick Peterson, he is one of the best cornerback talents to come out of the college ranks in years.
Charles Woodson, taken fourth overall in 1999 also came into the draft with lofty expectations. He has lived up to every one of them.
Mike Sando of ESPN compared Peterson to several cornerbacks taken over the years, and Woodson stood out.
"Woodson is a seven-time Pro Bowl choice," wrote Sando. "He was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. He played a key role in Green Bay's development into a Super Bowl champion. Woodson has 47 interceptions and has returned 10 of them for touchdowns. These are the sorts of credentials that will make Woodson a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame."
Woodson was drafted fourth overall, and Peterson is projected as a possible first overall draft pick.
Sando thinks Peterson will not drop past the San Francisco 49ers, though.
"Scouting reports on Peterson suggest he's a special talent, not only at cornerback but as a returner. The 49ers could use his services in both capacities."
Peterson is drawing a lot of attention, and I like the comparison to Charles Woodson. Peterson is six feet, 219 lbs., and some scouts think he could be transitioned to safety, but I disagree with that.
When you are as successful as Peterson is at the cornerback position, any head coach who wants to transition him to safety is overthinking the process and probably should stop being a head coach.
Like Woodson, Peterson has been dominant, and if he follows Woodson's career path, we all saw in February it helped win a Super Bowl.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Both Quarterbacks Had Long Road To Success In College
When looking at Cam Newton, a lot of people have tried to make him the "Tim Tebow" of this year's draft class.
That comparison only works if you use the analogy "both quarterbacks are very popular but scouts have some doubts."
The big difference is Tebow still is more popular than Newton, and Newton's transition to the pros is not questioned as heavily as Tebow's still is.
But the Tebow connection is where this comparison does begin. Newton was recruited to the University of Florida and was competing to become a backup to Tebow.
An ankle injury derailed his development in 2008, and then Newton was arrested for the alleged theft of a laptop computer. Newton then transferred to Blinn College where he led that team to a championship.
This resulted in his transfer to Auburn in 2010, and the rest is history.
Like Newton, Akili Smith started at the junior college level at Grossmont College.
ESPN's James Walker spells the rest out.
"One of the primary reasons Newton is being compared to Smith is their rapid rise in the college ranks," wrote Walker. "Smith started two years at a junior college before transferring to Oregon, where he shot up the draft boards after throwing for 3,763 yards and 32 touchdowns his senior season. Smith entered the 1999 NFL draft with only 11 career starts in Division I.
"Sound familiar?
"Like Smith, Newton enters the draft with just one full season as a starter at the highest level. Smith wowed scouts in offseason workouts with his strong arm and immense athletic ability, and Newton has a chance to do the same. Smith went No. 3 overall to Cincinnati and Newton's early projections place him in the top 10.
Now that I have sent Auburn fans into a tizzy, I'll back off a moment and examine some of the reasons Smith failed. One big reason is the team who drafted him, the Cincinnati Bengals.
In a lot of my draft coverage, I repeatedly have said Newton must be developed carefully and not rushed into action. Newton also must sign a contract and be in camp when it starts.
Smith held out and, according to some of his contemporaries, never really grasped the playbook. While athletic (like Newton), Smith looked overwhelmed on the field a lot of the time.
If Newton can learn the lessons of Smith, he will have a far better career.
For a look at the NFL Draft, check out our NFL Draft Hub.


8 Comments
Loading comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete