New England Patriots: 5 best NFL prospects to select at No. 15
New England Patriots selections at No. 15: Devonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Alabama
Despite winning the Heisman trophy this past college season, Devonta Smith’s draft stock has only dropped since the end of the season.
With Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle seemingly passing him on the draft board, nobody is really sure where Smith will end up.
Smith was easily the most productive wide receiver in all of college football last season (117 REC, 1856 YDS, 24 TDS), and if he falls to the Patriots, he would be a tough player to pass on.
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Looking at the numbers, there aren’t many holes you can poke in Smith’s game. A four year player at Alabama, Smith gradually improved through each season, before exploding this past season on his way to a Heisman trophy.
Smith is lightning fast, and he uses that ability to get himself open at will in all three levels of the field. But his small frame (6-0, 170 pounds) has left evaluators worried about his durability, and whether he will be bullied by larger cornerbacks in the NFL.
Despite adding tons of help in free agency, the Patriots didn’t really add to their wide receiver core, and with Julian Edelman recently announcing his retirement, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots target a couple of wideouts in this draft class.
While there are some detractors to Smith’s play, he is clearly a high upside prospect who will be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses if he can adapt to the NFL style of play. If the Patriots have the chance to add the most recent Heisman winner to their team at No.15, they should absolutely pick him up.