Over the month of April WEEI.com will offer up a total of 28 prospects who could be potential Patriots selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. While the top five projected overall prospects – QB Trevor Lawrence, QB Zach Wilson, WR Ja’Marr Chase, TE Kyle Pitts and OT Penei Sewell – won’t be included, all other players at all positions will be considered potential targets for Bill Belichick and his staff. Today takes a look at an Alabama pass catcher coming off one of the greatest seasons in college football history.
DeVonta Smith
WR Alabama
6-0, 170
Resume: Smith was a football, basketball and track star at Amite (La.) High School, playing wide receiver, cornerback and return man on the gridiron. … After originally committing to Georgia, Smith eventually chose Alabama over scholarship offers from the likes of Florida State, LSU and Miami as the No. 9 wide receiver recruit in the country. … Saw immediate action for the Tide in 2017, including catching the winning touchdown pass in overtime of the National Championship. … Saw his production grow each season on a stacked Alabama wide receiver depth chart, finishing his career with consecutive 1,200-plus-yard years in 2019 and 2020. … Had one of the greatest receiver seasons in history last fall when he caught 117 passes for 1,856 yards (15.9 avg.) and 23 touchdowns. … One of only five players to serve as a two-time Tide captain under Nick Saban. … The first receiver to win the Heisman in nearly three decades, Smith became the first-ever player to win that award as well as the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Biletnikoff Award and Hornung Award all in one year. … Was unanimous First-Team All-American in 2020 while also earning the SEC Offensive Player of the Year nod. … 235 career catches are most in Alabama history, while his 46 touchdowns are most in SEC history and fifth all time in FBS. … Was invited but did not play in the Senior Bowl due to a finger injury and did not work out at Alabama’s pro day.
Pre-Draft Buzz: Does size matter for NFL receivers? That’s essentially the question that’s been at the center of Smith’s value debate leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft. … While Smith is almost universally considered one of the top three prospects at his position, some aren’t sure he’ll even be the first Alabama wide receiver selected with Jaylan Waddle getting plenty of hype. … The Ringer compares Smith to former Alabama playmaker and Falcons first-round pick Calvin Ridley. … NFL.com’s player profile also compares Smith to Ridley, although it goes outside of football for another comparison. “[A] better comp might be Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry. Like Curry, Smith is thinner than you'd like and isn't the strongest player, but he has rare quickness, speed, and change-of-direction fluidity, and he creates separation from defenders seemingly at will.” … NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah put Smith at No. 11 overall to the Giants in his mock draft. … The Athletic brings up a skinny former Colts All-Pro star in its summary of Smith’s NFL prospects, writing that “Smith doesn’t have an elite size/speed profile, leading to legitimate durability concerns, but his explosive athleticism, instinctive route-running and natural hands are what make him a polished playmaker in the Marvin Harrison mold.”
Why Smith fits the Patriots’ needs: Is there any team in the NFL that couldn’t put Smith’s talents to use? A wide receiver who gets open, catches the football and comes from Saban’s pro-style program? Hard to imagine Belichick wouldn’t consider Smith if the Heisman winner was on the board when New England picks. The Patriots clearly still need a No. 1 wide receiver for their passing attack, even after an aggressive offseason. Smith may not have the big body of a prototypical No. 1 NFL wide receiver, but hard to argue against the production and playmaking. Smith isn’t going to last too long on draft night and some team will likely be very happy with its pick of the Tide target. Maybe even the Patriots. Maybe.