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In Pro Football Focus’ latest mock of the 2021 NFL draft, the New York Giants opt for a dynamic playmaker with the 11th overall selection: Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith.
The Giants likely went into the 2020 season feeling content with their offensive weapons and made no real moves to add to their receiving corps,” writes’ PFF’s Ben Linsey. “It’s hard to imagine that being the case again in 2021, so Smith falling to 11th overall would be an ideal situation for New York.
Smith’s production has been off the charts over the last two years. He led all Alabama wide receivers — a group that included three other first-round talents — in receiving yardage in 2019 and is coming off an even better, Heisman-winning campaign this past season. From his releases to his ball skills, there is a lot to like with Smith, and he would give a much-needed injection of talent to the Giants’ offense.
Every college football fan knows Smith. He is a proven commodity in this draft and the Giants need all the help they can get for their 31st-ranked offense.
Smith is the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991 and the first wideout to be named AP Player of the Year.
The way wide receivers are valued in this league, it’s a long-shot that Smith will make out of the top 10 but Linsey has Houston trading Deshaun Watson to the Jets for the No. 2 pick and selecting BYU QB Zach Wilson.
The rest of the Top 10 consists of QB Trevor Lawrence of Clemson going to Jacksonville with the first overall pick, followed by Wilson, Ohio State QB Justin Fields (Carolina), Oregon OT Penei Sewell (Atlanta), LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati), Florida TE Kyle Pitts (Philadelphia), QB Trey Lance of North Dakota State (Detroit), Penn State Micah Parsons (Miami), Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley and OT Rashawn Slater of Northwestern (Dallas).
Many see the Giants passing on Smith for his fellow Crimson Tide wideout, Jaylen Waddle, but Linsey has him going 15th to the New England Patriots.
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