Devin Smith a target for Baltimore Ravens?
Aug 30, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Devin Smith (9) runs past Navy Midshipmen cornerback Quincy Adams (5) during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State deep threat Devin Smith electrified college football with big plays, and the Baltimore Ravens may want him to do the same in Baltimore.
Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reported that the Ravens and Smith met at the Senior Bowl, with Smith saying the Ravens showed a lot of interest.
The attraction makes sense. The Ravens could very well lose their lone deep threat, Torrey Smith, to free agency, so adding the draft’s best deep threat would make sense.
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And yes, Devin Smith is the draft’s best deep threat, even better than Amari Cooper and DeVante Parker.
Smith will undoubtedly rock the 40-yard dash at the Combine. He consistently burned secondaries that were specifically geared to stop Smith from getting deep. Trying to jam him? Better have a very talented safety in a deep zone behind the jam.
Against off coverage, Smith gets open with small, savvy moves that get opposing defensive backs off-balance. Get even a little off-balance, and Smith will be behind you in a flash.
Further, Smith excels at catching contested deep balls. He is very good at boxing out opposing defensive backs like a rebounded in basketball, and he tracks the ball as well as any receiver in this class. At 6′ and 190 pounds, Smith has enough size, with good leaping ability, to go up for jump balls.
Really, he is the total package… in the deep passing game.
At Ohio State, though, Smith rarely did anything other than catch deep balls and screens. He ran the occasional curl (not well) and not much else. Needless to say, he has a lot to prove with regards to route running.
Wilson did say Devin Smith performed well in Senior Bowl practices, showing improved intermediate route running. That was not readily apparent in the game, however.
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Right now, Smith looks to be a high second-round pick. The Ravens would probably have to either pick him with their first rounder or trade back if they were truly in love with him as a prospect. And with so many great receivers in this draft (Cooper, Parker, Jaelen Strong, Sammie Coates, etc.), the Ravens would probably be wise to trade back if there is a second-round receiver they truly do covet.
How Smith compares to other receivers in the draft is iffy. Obviously, Cooper is head and shoulders above everyone else, while Parker looks a lot like Mike Evans on the field. The opportunity to select either shouldn’t be ignored, and Trae Waynes is an enticing cornerback in the first round as well.
Obviously, the Ravens haven’t locked in on anyone, but Smith would clearly make sense. Don’t be shocked if he dons the purple and black in his future.