The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Smith, who entered the draft with one year of college eligibility left, had 54 catches for 1,082 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
He was also part of a Golden Knights team that that finished 2017 unbeaten and
capped that campaign with a victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl."When you get a player like me you get a person who's a good ball hawk, who goes after the ball when it's in the air ??50-50 balls, they're mine http://www.chiefsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-armani-watts-jersey ," Smith said on a conference call after his selection. "And a hustler. I love to
make plays for my other teammates. The game is just bigger than me. If you want
to win, it's a team sport. You've got to be selfless."I love watching teammates make plays when something I did" contributed, Smith said. "It makes me happy inside and it builds trust."General manager Mickey Loomis described Smith as a receiver who has the speed, ability, intelligence and toughness to find a role in New Orleans'
dynamic offense, even if it's blocking downfield for running backs Mark Ingram
or Alvin Kamara."He's a good blocker. That's important for our receivers to be good blockers and he's definitely that," Loomis said. "That's part of that toughness."Smith said the Saints had told him they liked his "physicality" on plays in which he made key blocks downfield to spring teammates for extra
yardage Authentic Customized Dolphins Jerseys , as well as his ability to "go get the ball when it was in the air."Smith was the first player drafted by New Orleans on the second day of the draft. New Orleans did not have a pick in the second round this year, having
dealt that away during last year's third round as part of a trade that allowed
the Saints to snag Kamara, the 2017 NFL offensive rookie of the year.In Thursday night's first round, the Saints picked UTSA defensive end Marcus Davenport 14th overall after trading up from 27th in a deal with Green Bay that
also sent a fifth-round pick this year and a first-rounder next year to the
Packers.Loomis said there were brief discussions about the possibility of trading up again, but it would not have been easy after the trade made a day earlier."We've pretty much shot our gun," Loomis said.New Orleans didn't have a pressing need for a receiver.During free agency, the Saints brought in Cameron Meredith Sam Darnold Jersey Elite , who led Chicago in receiving in 2016 before missing last season with a knee injury. New Orleans' receiving corps also includes Pro
Bowler Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn and Brandon Coleman. But the club did lose
restricted free agent Willie Snead to Baltimore."This is a case of ??at that point in the draft, where we were at ??this is a player we had graded the highest," Loomis said. "This is a player that we liked
a lot."Smith said he considers himself a deep threat and a possession receiver. Loomis added that the Saints were impressed with Smith's knack for gaining yards
after the catch, suggesting that likely contributed to Smith's considerable
average of about 20 yards per reception."I want to build a great relationship with Drew Brees," Smith said. "If I could, I'd be up there tomorrow."Smith also noted that he hopes UCF's no-huddle offense ??which called for him to play multiple positions Mike Gesicki Jersey Dolphins , memorize the play book and routinely respond to a quarterback audible at the line of scrimmage ??has prepared him to adapt to New
Orleans' multiple offense.Smith never played youth football, playing more basketball until high school in south Florida. He calls himself a "late bloomer."But Loomis noted that the Saints' scouting department had high regard for Smith "early on" in the evaluation process."We're going to find out where we play him," Loomis said. "He's a smart player who can fill a lot of roles for us. ... He's got a pretty large skill
set."The Tennessee Titans are releasing outside linebacker Kevin Dodd, an unceremonious finish for a former second-round pick who never came close to
living up this draft position.
The Titans announced Tuesday in a one-sentence release that they plan to cut ties with Dodd, the 33rd overall pick in the 2016 draft.This move comes two days after the Titans placed Dodd on the ”did not report” list. Dodd also skipped voluntary offseason workouts before reporting to the
team’s mandatory minicamp in June.Dodd only reported to the Titans’ offseason program in June when staying away would have meant a fine.Injuries limited Dodd for much of his stay with the Titans. He appeared in only nine games in each of his two seasons with Tennessee. He recorded a total
of one sack.The Titans had much bigger hopes for Dodd when they selected him out of Clemson early in the second round.Dodd had 12 sacks his junior year at Clemson and recorded 23 tackles for loss to rank second nationally. He capped his Clemson career by delivering five
tackles for loss and three sacks against Alabama in the College Football Playoff
championship game.He never approached that production with the Titans and now becomes the first draft bust of general manager Jon Robinson’s Tennessee tenure.—.
