Marcus Smith

[L.Freamon]

Why is he still here?

After all he was Howie's pick right? As such he's not Chips guy--he barely saw the field. Hell, even Danny Watkins started for a season.

Considering Chips dumped guys with 10x the talent, it doesn't make sense for them to be gone and Smith to still be here--particularly if its a Howie guy.

Enlighten me.

 

[Funk]

Who gets rid of a guy they just picked in the 1st round? Regardless of who's pick it was, you try to develop that pick as best you can.

 

[deerpathdave]

Draft picks have really team friendly contracts for 3 years. Very rare to cut an early draft after only one year.

Last year was basically Smith's redshirt year. He didn't have a legit chance to play behind Cole and Graham. If he is a player, he should work himself into a rotation with Barwin and Graham this year.

 

[soulxflare]

Because no team wants to admit they f'd up their first round pick this early. They will let him play out his rookie deal. If he cannot be a meaningful contributor to the team at that point, they'll let him walk.

 

[DaEagles]

Good question.

Was a terrible pick.

Some here think it was a good pick and still think he's gonna be good.

 

[old duke]

Because no team wants to admit they f'd up their first round pick this early. They will let him play out his rookie deal. If he cannot be a meaningful contributor to the team at that point, they'll let him walk.

If he can't get on the field at all this year, then he should get traded or cut before the 2016 season, if he's that bad, and save cap room. That said, I hope he develops into a great player this year.

 

[soulxflare]

If he can't get on the field at all this year, then he should get traded or cut before the 2016 season, if he's that bad, and save cap room. That said, I hope he develops into a great player this year.

Who would trade for a guy like that? If he can't get on the field this year, the only option would be to cut him.

 

[Iron Eagle]

....he's cheap. He's not handicapped so he gets the time he needs to develop whatever is lacking in his individual game. There have been players who "figured it out" in year 2 or 3.

If he can become another Graham it would nice depth at the very least.

 

[Birds4life81]

Some of you guys crack me up, you all expect rookies to be difference makers fresh out of college. These are KIDS - physically and mentally. Most need time to develop. Will he ever live up to his draft status? I don't know…but to give up on him after 1 year is stupid to even talk about.

 

[Northern Eagle]

No doubt year 2 will be his make or break year... he has to get stronger, that was his biggest knock coming out to begin with.

 

[soulxflare]

Some of you guys crack me up, you all expect rookies to be difference makers fresh out of college. These are KIDS - physically and mentally. Most need time to develop. Will he ever live up to his draft status? I don't know…but to give up on him after 1 year is stupid to even talk about.

It depends. A first round pick, barring extenuating circumstances, should be expected to be a starter in his first season. That's not an unreasonable expectation. Second round and beyond is negotiable.

 

[Birds4life81]

It depends. A first round pick, barring extenuating circumstances, should be expected to be a starter in his first season. That's not an unreasonable expectation. Second round and beyond is negotiable.

Is it disappointing he didn't sniff any snaps, absolutely - but we can't give up on him after 1 year. It was obvious on tape that he needed to get stronger for the NFL. The mental part of it is very challenging for some rookies as well, regardless of draft position. We need to give this some time before we panic. It's pretty ridiculous to have this kind of thread after his rookie year. If he shows up to camp looking exactly the same from a physical standpoint, then I'll start to panic.

 

[DaEagles]

Some of you guys crack me up, you all expect rookies to be difference makers fresh out of college. These are KIDS - physically and mentally. Most need time to develop. Will he ever live up to his draft status? I don't know…but to give up on him after 1 year is stupid to even talk about.

Difference maker, hell how bout just makin the game day roster? He couldn't even make the ST's.

I don't ever expect a 1st rounder to not make the game day roster. There is NO excuse (unless injured) to not be active on game days.

Would be interesting seeing how many other 1st rounders didn't suit up half the season due to just not being good enough to make it. If not for injury after injury to our LB's he may of been on it all season.

 

[old duke]

Some of you guys crack me up, you all expect rookies to be difference makers fresh out of college. These are KIDS - physically and mentally. Most need time to develop. Will he ever live up to his draft status? I don't know…but to give up on him after 1 year is stupid to even talk about.

Bud,
I was saying after next season. I think they can tell after 2 years. I didn't intend to intimate after one season. I agree with you, although it bothers me that he didn't prepare enough for his rookie season as far as body development goes.

 

[Birds4life81]

Bud,
I was saying after next season. I think they can tell after 2 years. I didn't intend to intimate after one season. I agree with you, although it bothers me that he didn't prepare enough for his rookie season as far as body development goes.

I wasn't directing my comment towards you old duke!

 

[soulxflare]

Is it disappointing he didn't sniff any snaps, absolutely - but we can't give up on him after 1 year. It was obvious on tape that he needed to get stronger for the NFL. The mental part of it is very challenging for some rookies as well, regardless of draft position. We need to give this some time before we panic. It's pretty ridiculous to have this kind of thread after his rookie year. If he shows up to camp looking exactly the same from a physical standpoint, then I'll start to panic.

I don't think I ever said we should give up on him, at least not right now. If he doesn't earn any snaps this coming year -- then we need to start the conversation about cutting bait.

 

[old duke]

I wasn't directing my comment towards you old duke!

Whew! That's a big relief!!

 

[L.Freamon]

Some of you guys crack me up, you all expect rookies to be difference makers fresh out of college. These are KIDS - physically and mentally. Most need time to develop. Will he ever live up to his draft status? I don't know…but to give up on him after 1 year is stupid to even talk about.

Its not unrealistic to expect a 1st rounder to contribute right away.

A first rounder that was a reach though...

 

[EagleUpNorth]

He didn't get on the field because the play of our existing olbs was superior in 2014, than 2013. In 2013, Cole wore down, Barwin had more batted balls than sacks and Brandon Graham was the bust. So we drafted another rush outside linebacker, after trading down once, who didn't see the field bc all the players above him were better. I doubt he played any special teams in college. the jury is still out on the player he becomes, I'm not counting him out yet.

 

[Tampabirdsfan]

Does anybody actually believe that Howie was sitting in the war room saying, "Let's draft Marcus Smith", and Chip was sitting in the corner with his arms crossed. There is no way Smith would have been picked unless Chip was at least somewhat on board with the pick. I don't know how true it is, but I read maybe a month ago, that the way they worked the draft was Chip and Howie each had a list of players they liked at that pick. If a player was on one list and not the other, they went to the next player until they came to one they both liked. Obviously, it's a poor way to run a draft, but it would make some sense for why they reached.