So I might be a little biased.
Actually, I am probably pretty biased. But that is what happens when you watch a 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback carry his team for three seasons.
Next Thursday when the National Football League meets for the 79th time to announce the players chosen to play professional football, Brett Smith’s name should be called in at least the third round, if not the second.
Although Smith’s last season as a Cowboy was a disappointing one, the team finished 3-5 in conference and fourth in the Mountain West. During his time here, he has demonstrated he has the skill, athletic ability and drive necessary to be an NFL quarterback.
To describe Smith as underrated would be an understatement. After being overlooked for most of his collegiate career and failing to receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, Smith has more than proved how big of a threat he is when he plays with a chip on his shoulder. Especially when the chip on his shoulder is as big as the size of the state he plays in.
One of the first underclassmen to declare for the draft, Smith is one of the most talented quarterbacks in this year’s class. Aside from setting numerous Wyoming and Mountain West records, in his last season Smith passed for 3,359 yards, 29 touchdowns and completed 62.6 percent of his passes.
No, he is not a Teddy Bridgewater or a Johnny Manziel. But Smith’s offensive line was far from what Bridgewater played with and his reputation has never been scrutinized quite like Manziel’s. Smith is a more controlled version of the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, both on and off the field.
Smith is not NFL-starting-quarterback ready, but many teams would benefit from honing him to replace their current starting quarterbacks. Teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos should all be looking to Smith as a more than promising second-string quarterback.
With his quick and accurate release, tremendous speed and talent for reading a field, Smith’s named should be called ahead of better-known quarterbacks like Louisiana State University’s Zach Mettenberger and Georgia’s Aaron Murray.
Quarterback evaluator Benjamin Albright and NFLDraftScout.com analysts Dane Brugler both projected Smith would go sometime between the second and fourth rounds.
Despite his snub at the NFL Scouting Combine, Smith more than made up for his absence with his performance at Wyoming’s Pro Day.
Included in his stellar performance was his 40-yard dash. Running it in 4.51 seconds, Smith proved just how fast he is.
If Smith played in the SEC or the Big 10, he would most likely be a better-known player and enjoy a higher draft stock, but Smith did not play for a big, powerhouse school. Smith played for Wyoming.
Although he has been underestimated and overlooked, Smith has demonstrated time and time again he has what it takes to play professionally and the round he is drafted in should project that.
