As the questions continue to mount for Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith, so does the possibility that the talented mountain of a man will do a freefall through the first round of the draft.
Not long ago, he was seriously being mentioned as a possibility for the Detroit Lions with the No. 1 pick. If not to Motown, most had him going in the top five picks.
Now, Smith could be making a move down the board, quite a ways down the board, and could be in play for the Bears when they select 18th.
Early results from Smith’s pro day today in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where it is believed Bears’ scout Mark Sadowski is on hand, are not good. Remember, Smith blew out of the scouting combine in Indianapolis last month without telling anyone. He said he was going to work out on his pro day. That hasn’t gone so well so far. His 40 time was 5.28 seconds. While that’s not real significant for offensive linemen, it gives you a general idea about his athleticism. More alarming was just 19 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds. This is a player who was known for his tenacity and muscle on the field. However, those are not numbers that are going to bury him. In comparison, Chris Williams ran a 5.21 40 last year and put up 21 reps on the bench press.
Despite the bad press he’s getting already on a workout that ended just a short while ago, one source said he did well in positional drills and that he would be surprised if Smith fell out of the top 10. He said Smith wasn’t winded in his workouts and that was another key. You’re going to get different opinions depending where you look. The bottom line is if he does make it out of the top 10, the Bears will have to consider him.
The Bears will surely take a look at another player from the school, safety Rashard Johnson, but it’s interesting to consider what could happen if Smith tumbles through the first round. They could be staring at the top talent if they’re comfortable with the baggage he’s carrying.
