NFL Draft: Hypothetical .. Where would Alex Smith go this year?

[DeToxRox]

Say Alex Smith stayed in school, and Vince Young decided to come out this year. Where does Alex Smith get picked, only knowing what you knew of him from college ...

I gotta' say he wouldn't be in my top 10, probably not even top 15.

[Young Drachma]

2nd round, maybe later? I mean, Utah wasn't that great this year.

[Bad-example]

The 49ers took him at #1 last year. There is no reason to believe he would get past them at #7 this year.

[st.cronin]

It would depend on how he played, obviously. Last year he was considered somewhat behind Leinart. I don't see how he could possibly have moved AHEAD of Leinart.

[timmynausea]

I have to think that he'd be behind Leinart and Young as far as quarterbacks.

[Maple Leafs]

On behalf of all 49ers fans -- please shut up. Please. We can't hear you. Nah nah nah.

[cries]

[st.cronin]

On behalf of all 49ers fans -- please shut up. Please. We can't hear you. Nah nah nah.

[cries]

Chin up. It's too early to be crying. Smith could easily end up better than Young and Leinart.

[clintl]

Assuming he had a comparable or better season in college this year compared to last, I'd say first round, but behind Leinart and Young.

[kingfc22]

I like Smith and believe he will turn into a good pro as soon as we get some help on the O-line and some weapons to get the ball to. With that said however of all the years for us to get the #1 pick, we had to choose last year. :(

[Terps]

He'd be behind Leinart and Young, but I think he'd still be in the top 15 at least.

[stevew]

I doubt he would last past #10 and Arizona.

[Honolulu_Blue]

On behalf of all 49ers fans -- please shut up. Please. We can't hear you. Nah nah nah.

[cries]
Poor Little Mooch. Leafs, give up on the 49ers and come and be a Lions' fan. Youre likeness coached here too. You'll have to put up with Harrington, the Millen wide receiver drafting jokes, and about 50 years of complete and utter incompetence, but at least you don't have this Alex Smith thing hanging over your head or any sort of "glory years" to look back fondly upon. There's no fall from grace around these parts, the Lions have been felled fer years!

[MacroGuru]

Ok, as for Alex Smith...his team this season stunk it up, part of the reason, was not having him at QB.

I think the Utes take the Mountain West, end up ranked again, but nothing getting them to the BCS, and he heads in the late 1st, early 2nd.

Honestly, he saw the team for what it was, going downhill, and without Urban, who knows. To me, it also showed he had no faith in an OC to take up where Urban left off.

[clintl]

Side issue - Alex Smith is a bit of an anomaly, because he didn't just come out for the draft early. He actually graduated early. Would the NCAA rules have even allowed him to come back?

[Logan]

Side issue - Alex Smith is a bit of an anomaly, because he didn't just come out for the draft early. He actually graduated early. Would the NCAA rules have even allowed him to come back?

Ask the ballroom dancing Matt Leinart.

[JeeberD]

Side issue - Alex Smith is a bit of an anomaly, because he didn't just come out for the draft early. He actually graduated early. Would the NCAA rules have even allowed him to come back?

Lots of football and basketball players are actually taking grad courses their senior seasons...

[stevew]

Lots of football and basketball players are actually taking grad courses their senior seasons...

Peyton Manning graduated after 3 years also.

[Daimyo]

I might be misremembering, but I don't think there was unanimous agreement last year that Leinert would have gone higher than Smith (I'd say closer to 60/40 or 70/30). I think a lot of you guys are being influenced by his terrible season for the 49ers this year. I bet if he had stayed and had a season just like last year that he would go pretty high. As someone mentioned above, if the 49ers were willing to take him at #1 they would certainly be willing to take him at #7 this season (assuming they didn't fall back to Rogers last year).

[Swaggs]

Don't forget that Alex Smith is still only 21 years old. It is amazing that he had graduated college and was the #1 pick in the NFL while only being 20 years old. I think he'd still be a top 7-10 pick, depending on need. He'll still be a real good quarterback.

[st.cronin]

I might be misremembering, but I don't think there was unanimous agreement last year that Leinert would have gone higher than Smith (I'd say closer to 60/40 or 70/30). I think a lot of you guys are being influenced by his terrible season for the 49ers this year. I bet if he had stayed and had a season just like last year that he would go pretty high. As someone mentioned above, if the 49ers were willing to take him at #1 they would certainly be willing to take him at #7 this season (assuming they didn't fall back to Rogers last year).

I remember differently. I remember people saying of Leinart that he may as well come out, because he was pretty much assured of going #1 overall, whereas if he stayed, he might slip.

[timmynausea]

I remember differently. I remember people saying of Leinart that he may as well come out, because he was pretty much assured of going #1 overall, whereas if he stayed, he might slip.

That's what I recall as well. In fact, Aaron Rodgers was considered to be ahead of Alex Smith until pretty near draft time. Even at the last minute some people were predicting the 49ers would take Rodgers.

[cthomer5000]

Leinart was the sure-fire #1 if he came out last year, which is why his return to school was so surprising.

[Mo.Raider]

I can't stand the Fortywhiners, but I don't think any of their fans should pull the panic button yet. Sure he should have normally lasted to the 2nd round along with Aaron Rogers, but when you think where Brady was taken that doesn't really matter. Smith is smart, has the skills, and is level headed. He will eventually develop into a good qb. The only thing that will haunt him is the price tag that came with him. Waaaaayyy too much. Might have benefited career wise if he had slipped. Man last year was a weak year for impact players.

[clintl]

Yeah, there really wasn't a guy worth taking #1 overall last year.

[ice4277]

That's what I recall as well. In fact, Aaron Rodgers was considered to be ahead of Alex Smith until pretty near draft time. Even at the last minute some people were predicting the 49ers would take Rodgers.
There are few things I find as enjoyable in life as watching a supposed top-5/top-10 pick sit in the green room at the NFL draft, looking more and more uncomfortable as they slide down the chart.

[DeToxRox]

There are few things I find as enjoyable in life as watching a supposed top-5/top-10 pick sit in the green room at the NFL draft, looking more and more uncomfortable as they slide down the chart.

Even though I hate you, I agree.

[ice4277]

Even though I hate you, I agree.
Where's the 48072 love?

[DeToxRox]

Where's the 48072 love?

Fine. I guess since you live on the right side of Coolidge I can like you.

[ice4277]

Fine. I guess since you live on the right side of Coolidge I can like you.
As long as its south of 12 Mile, its all good.

[DeToxRox]

As long as its south of 12 Mile, its all good.

The only thing north of 12 mile thats any good is Big Beaver.

[ice4277]

The only thing north of 12 mile thats any good is Big Beaver.
Exit 69!

[DeToxRox]

Exit 69!

I ALWAYS GET OFF THERE!

[ice4277]

Exit 69!
For those not in the know:

http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Humor/Images/Exit69BigBeaverRoad.jpg

[DeToxRox]

For those not in the know:

http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Humor/Images/Exit69BigBeaverRoad.jpg

It's better then watching the Lions play.

[ice4277]

It's better then watching the Lions play.
When they played at the Silverdome, you could watch them play AND drive by the sign!

[st.cronin]

Through 3 games this year, Alex Smith has a qb rating of 93.5, has taken one sack, and has 0 interceptions. He has significantly outplayed Eli Manning, among others.

[kingfc22]

I like Smith and believe he will turn into a good pro as soon as we get some help on the O-line and some weapons to get the ball to. With that said however of all the years for us to get the #1 pick, we had to choose last year. :(

Bolded for emphasis. Frank Gore, Antonio Bryant and an uninjured Eric Johnson have made life for Alex a lot more managable. Also the addition of Norv Turner has obviously helped his growth.

[Galaxy]

Would Smith go ahead of Culter?

[Izulde]

Through 3 games this year, Alex Smith has a qb rating of 93.5, has taken one sack, and has 0 interceptions. He has significantly outplayed Eli Manning, among others.

Eli Manning's a fucking asshat.

[stevew]

Through 3 games this year, Alex Smith has a qb rating of 93.5, has taken one sack, and has 0 interceptions. He has significantly outplayed Eli Manning, among others.

Somehow Big Ben and Alex Smith switched mojo this year.

[Ryche]

Norv Turner. Helpless as a head coach, but maybe the best offensive coordinator in the game.

[ISiddiqui]

Good for Alex Smith. People are waaay too quick to write off QBs who struggle in their first year.

[stevew]

Good for Alex Smith. People are waaay too quick to write off QBs who struggle in their first year.

C'mon though, he was historically bad. Probably the worst extended performance by a QB in NFL history.

[ISiddiqui]

So was the talent around him. I mean it isn't like the 49ers had anyone good on the line or in the talent positions.