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Defensive End - Aldon Smith, Missouri
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 263
40yd: 4.74
Interest Level:
Private Workout: Yes
Private Visit to Team Facility: No
Attended Proday: Yes
Other: -
Quick Take:
Long armed, highly athletic prospect, with an inconsistent, somewhat sporadic career. Productivity comes in bursts, with long stretches in between. Sometimes only makes one or two key plays in a game, but shows the ability to do it more often if motivated. Not quick off the line, except for straight in assignments. Usually a bit of hesitation while processing the play. Can and has played every position and gap along a 4-man front, and usually does best when stunting or twisting in order to keep him clean and give him a little time to build up some momentum. Tough and played through a fractured fibula in 2010, logging 10 games on it while letting it heal naturally. Has question marks regarding lack of effort and intensity. Holds future in own hands.
Where He Goes in the Draft:
Bottom of the 1st round, early 2nd
What is Denver's Interest In Him?
Medium.
The end of the first round is worth fleshing out because Denver may feel the need to climb the draft board a bit from #36 in order to nab one of their coveted "4 starters" in this draft, and a player like Smith has very good upside in terms of grabbing some pass rushing talent, and an overall upgrade along the DL. However, Smith has just enough red flags to warrant hesitation. Denver worked him out in Missouri, and declined to extend an invitation to him to see him on their own turf. My guess is they classified his talented flashes as just that: flashes, and nothing more.
| Round | Position, Name | |
| CB Patrick Peterson | ||
| DT Marcell Dareus | ||
| QB Blaine Gabbert | ||
| Top | OLB/DE Von Miller | |
| 1 | DE Robert Quinn | |
| DT Nick Fairley | ||
| QB Cam Newton | ||
| Middle | OT Nate Solder OT Anthony Costanzo DE Da'Quan Bowers DE Aldon Smith |
|
| Bottom | ||
| Top | ||
| 2 | Middle | |
| Bottom | ||
| Top | ||
| 3 | Middle | |
| Bottom | ||
| Top | ||
| 4 | Middle | |
| Bottom | ||
| 5 | Top | |
| Bottom | ||
| 6 | ||
| 7 |
[Note: All players in the table are ranked by overall grade within their round grouping, however, the round groupings are based on where this player will likely be drafted based on where teams are currently selecting in the draft. Therefore a player is ranked within a group by his level of ability, but players in nearby groupings may have higher or lower actual grades, despite being in a different group. Confusing enough for you? --Styg]