WR, Alabama
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 175 lbs
Class: Senior
Alabama saw two of their wide receivers go inside the top 15 of the 2020 Draft, but the player who led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns went back to college for his senior year. That player was of course Devonta Smith, who looks like one of the top prospects in another stacked receiver class in 2021.
You can read more of my 2021 NFL Draft content here.
Strengths
When it comes to college prospects you will struggle to find any as productive as Devonta Smith. He has three years experience playing as an outside receiver for the Crimson Tide, with 173 receptions to this point. He had a decent sophomore season with 42 catches for 690 yards, before exploding last season, finishing with 67 catches for 1,259 yards and 14 touchdowns. His hands are excellent too, with just four drops on 218 targets since the start of 2018.
He plays the game with real fluidity, showcasing quick feet and smooth hips in his route running. He isn’t the most explosive athlete but he has one of the best releases in the nation and has shown himself comfortable when facing press coverage. He’s got enough shiftiness to his route running to consistently create separation and he’s elusive in the open field. In 2019 he averaged 11.2 yards after the catch, with 15 forced missed tackles. Despite his slight frame, he’s surprisingly competitive at the catch point too.
This season he has continued to produce, with 759 yards and eight touchdowns through six games. He has also shown that he can win consistently from the slot and this added versatility will help his draft stock. 37.5 per cent of his receptions and 42.4 per cent of his receiving yards this season have come playing as a slot receiver. Over his career he has averaged a passer rating when targeted of 151.3.
Weaknesses
Smith has been consistently productive in college, but there are questions about how well his skillset translates to the NFL. He is seriously undersized for an outside receiver at just 175 lbs and it’s clear as soon as you watch his tape that he lacks any real play strength to his game. This is most apparent when he comes up against more physical corners who are able to disrupt his routes and timing.
Unlike a lot of undersized receivers, he doesn’t make up for this with elite speed. He’s more of a sudden and twitchy receiver than he is a burner. That’s a tough sell in the NFL where these traits have added importance. He needs to show that he can add some size and strength to his frame if he is going to be considered as one of the top tier receivers in this class.
Bottom Line
It’s hard to argue with the numbers that Smith has put together so far in his collegiate career. His great hands and route running ability will be highly prized at the next level. That said, he does have his limitations. Lacking size and speed is never a good combination in the NFL where defensive backs are bigger and faster than in college. His future may be primarily as a slot receiver at the next level, but he’s still a fantastic player who consistently creates separation. Right now he is WR4 on my Big Board and I’m expecting him to go inside the top 15.
Big Board Rank: #19
Positional Rank: #4
