CHICAGO (AP) — An early run on members of the Crimson Tide and on players named Smith marked the second round of the NFL draft Friday night.
The New York Giants, not a team known for trading up, began proceedings by doing just that. They moved up seven spots to get Alabama’s All-America safety Landon Collins to fill a huge hole in their secondary.
Three picks later, his teammate, running back T.J. Yeldon went to Jacksonville, which ranked 31st in rushing in 2014.
Other than them and Florida State defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., it was all Smiths in the first half-dozen choices: Penn State tackle Donovan Smith to Tampa Bay, ostensibly to protect Thursday’s top overall selection, Jameis Winston; Devin Smith, a speedy wideout from national champion Ohio State to the Jets; and Mississippi State linebacker Preston Smith to Washington.
With the pick it got in the deal with the Giants, the Titans took all of two seconds to select DoriRep. Al Green (D-TX)-Beckham, one of several players with substantial conduct issues in college. Like Tampa, Tennessee went quarterback in the opening round with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, and has added a tall, playmaking target in the 6-foot-5 Green-Beckham.
Of course, that’s if he straightens out his life. He was kicked off the Missouri team after several run-ins with the law, enrolled last year at Oklahoma and could not get NCAA permission to play there in 2014.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
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