Friday open thread: What is your hot take for the first round of the NFL Draft?

After months and months of mock drafts and insider information, the 2021 NFL Draft is under a week away. As always, this will be a big event for the Detroit Lions, and this year seems extra intriguing given the number of quarterbacks expected to go near the beginning of the event.

Yet as much certainty as everyone believes to have, there will surely be some big surprises next Thursday night. Teams will reach, players will fall, and trades will cause the actual draft results to look much different than all of the mocks that have been burned into our brains during the offseason. Buckle up.

Today’s Question of the Day is:

What is your hot take for the first round?

My answer: I think he is a super fun player, but I wonder if DeVonta Smith falls into the 20s of the first round. The Heisman winner has incredible tape and undeniable skill, but his size could give teams pause. Given the depth at the receiver position in this year’s draft, perhaps teams may pass over Smith for a safer pick in the first round, knowing they can still find good wide receiver talent on Day 2.

Minor drops like this happen every year to players ranked in the top 10 of most big boards like Smith currently is. Typically it just takes one knock on a player, like a character issue or poor testing attribute, and the durability concerns regarding Smith could be his weakness here. I still think the Alabama product could go on to have a great career, but I think he is a good candidate to slip down the board on draft night.

Your turn.