Buffalo Bills Draft Prospects: Donovan Smith

Moving on with our breakdown of possible draft picks for the Buffalo Bills when the NFL draft comes around in late April/early May. We will take a look at the offensive tackle out of Penn State, Donovan Smith.

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Donovan Johnson was a late invite to the senior bowl and was a redshirt in 2011. He is leaving Penn State with a year of eligibility left and is trying to make a statement in the NFL. He has a draft grade of 5.55 which will put him around the 3rd round as far as offensive lineman go and will classify him as a possible starter in the NFL.

Here are some strengths and weaknesses for Donovan Smith.

"Plays with good functional strength. Plus leg strength and can drive defender off the spot. Uses adequate footwork in run game to go with powerful base. Has desired pad level and bend in pass protection and his initial sets are above average. Plays with good pace on play-side zone plays, which bodes well if he kicks inside.Athleticism lacking to play tackle. Struggles to change direction against pass rushers. Can recognize stunts but is very slow to react to them. Ability to recover when beaten is lacking. Poor hand usage in run and pass blocking. Plays with hands too low and a weak, ineffective punch in pass protection.– NFL.com"

With a height of 6’6″ tall and 338 pounds, Smith is bale to get that big body moving. He came away with a 4.98 and 5.03 in the 40 yard dash during his pro day. He is compared to Max Starks who was an offensive tackle for the Steelers and Rams from 2004-2013.

The bottom line is…

"The frame of a guard and the skill set of a guard probably means Smith will end up moving to guard. His hands need work, but with power as his calling card and the ability to hide some of his athletic deficiencies by moving him inside, he has a good shot of getting drafted and fighting for a backup spot.– NFL.com"

Next: Buffalo Bills Draft Prospects: Jarvis Harrison

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