Jimmy Smith may be one of the best cornerbacks in the 2011 NFL Draft, but his character has been off-putting, to say the least. Smith made a splash at the NFL Combine when he said he has better ball skills than Nnamdi Asomugha, one of the best corners currently in the NFL. With Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara both above him on most 2011 NFL mock drafts, it was a bold statement.
Over at Walter Football, Smith’s character issues have him falling, but it could be the Seattle Seahawks that snatch him up in the first round. Smith has all the talent in the world, but his arrests, and a drug history, at Colorado may leave teams wary. As we’ve heard before, Pete Carroll could be a good fit with Smith, perhaps helping him straighten his act out.
Jimmy Smith is a top-15 talent, but has character issues. He tested positive for drugs at Colorado and was also arrested twice. During the team interviews, Smith reportedly admitted to only one arrest, which draws yet another red flag.
Despite this, Seattle could still be interested. Pete Carroll hasn’t shown an aversion to poor-character players (LenDale White, Mike Williams, Anthony McCoy, etc.) He may opt to take a chance on Smith
No matter who you ask, Carroll’s been willing and able to take on character risks, and has had success in doing so. The Mike Williams reclamation tour ended as a success in 2010, and Carroll handled plenty of talented, if not troubled, athletes at USC.
The Seahawks need at cornerback apparent — with Marcus Trufant slowed and Kelly Jennings ineffective. Smith could be the answer, and would be a steal if he falls to No. 25. Then again, the Seahawks have plenty of glaring needs on the roster — including the quarterback spot — leaving the front office with tough decisions ahead of April’s draft.
For more projections and guesses, check out the rest of our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream.