2021 NFL Draft: DeVonta Smith must be taken seriously as possible WR1
Alabama’s DeVonta Smith could easily be WR1 in the 2021 NFL Draft
LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is commonly considered the top wide receiver prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Chase is great, but sitting out this season could end up costing him the top wide receiver spot in this class because Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith has been absolutely fantastic this season. Smith has been so great this season that he undoubtedly needs to be taken seriously as the possible WR1 in the 2021 NFL Draft class.
Smith has taken his game to the next level the last few games and has been absolutely dominant for the Crimson Tide. On Saturday night against LSU, Smith hauled in eight receptions for 231 yards and three touchdowns.
For most of this game, Smith was matched up against LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who is widely considered one of the best defensive backs in college football. Smith dominated Stingley on Saturday night, undoubtedly an impressive showing for the wide receiver.
A huge majority of that production (seven receptions for 219 yards and all three touchdowns) came in the first half when this game was still in question. With the game well in hand, Alabama went run-heavy in the second half, obviously limiting Smith’s ability to pile up more gaudy numbers. Imagine what he could have done if this game was close.
The craziest part of this performance is that it may not even be Smith’s best game of the year. A few weeks ago against Mississippi State, Smith hauled in 11 receptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns. In his last four games, Smith has put up an eye-popping stat line of 35 receptions for 749 yards and 11 touchdowns. That would be an incredible season for nearly any receiver in college football and Smith put up that production in only four games.
Simply put, DeVonta Smith has been one of the best players in college football this season and should be taken seriously as a legitimate Heisman candidate. While the Heisman Trophy has become essentially a quarterback-only award, Smith has been so fantastic that he should at least be in the conversation.
The numbers are great, but watching him on the field is what really makes DeVonta Smith such an exciting 2021 NFL Draft prospect. He is an elite route-runner who consistently displays soft hands and is a dangerous weapon after the catch. He also shines in contested-catch situations, shows great body control in the air and has the explosive speed needed to be a consistent deep threat.
dark. Next. Where does Smith land in three-round 2021 NFL mock draft?
Some will knock Smith for his slight frame, but no serious play strength issues show up on the field. This guy is a high-level NFL prospect who has no real flaws in his game. This wide receiver class is absolutely loaded with talent, but Smith could easily end up being at the top when it is all said and done.