Kevin Smith

Which draft slot has produced the best NFL players over the past five years? It may be No. 5. Mason Graham, Joe Alt, Devon Witherspoon, Kayvon Thibodeaux, JaMarr Chase. 3 All-Pros, an All-Rookie selection in Graham and a solid starter in Thibodeaux. G-Men hold #5 this year...

My latest @SteelCNetwork article is out, in which I make the case that if the Steelers draft a quarterback next week, let it be an unconventional choice. I lay it all out ⬇️: steelcurtainnetwork.com/if-the-steeler…

If you really want to get creative in the deal? Swap both team's pair of 1st Round picks. DAL gets CLE's picks at 6 and 24, CLE gets DAL's picks at 12 and 20. DAL would have to throw in their Rd 3 pick to even out the value. But that's an interesting proposition...

8 days until the draft, one thought each day until we arrive: The Cowboys should trade up to draft Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Downs is not getting past CIN at #10, and could go sooner. A possible trade partner is CLE at #6, who needs to stockpile quality players. It...

...would cost DAL 400 pts on the trade value chart to move from #12 to #6. That's a mid-2nd Rd pick. DAL doesn't have a Rd 2 pick, but they could possibly move 2027 assets, which might be attractive to CLE. Downs is a game-changer, and DAL desperately needs secondary help.

On yesterday's Mail Bag segment of The Call Sheet podcast, I was asked who the Steelers will take if both PSU guard Vega Ioane and a top-tier WR (Tate, Tyson, Lemon) are available when they pick at #21. Here are some thoughts. Full episode is ⬇️: open.spotify.com/episode/2kkwGJ…

Great scheme when defenses want to cover down vs trips and sneak the weak safety into the alley as a run defender.

I come back to this speech every time I forget what winning actually means...

There were 30 QBs drafted as Top-15 picks between 2016-2025. 21 became franchise-type players. That's a 70% success rate. 88 QBs were drafted 16th-overall or later in those same years. Only seven became franchise players. That's 8%. If you need a QB, you have to get him early.

...his best supporting cast in years. Tate/Lemon/Sadiq to go with Kelce, Worthy, Rice and Kenny Walker? With Justin Fields in a Wildcat/gadget role that Andy Reid can get creative with? That would be a scary offense...

9 days until the draft, one thought each day until we arrive: The Chiefs should add offensive firepower with the #9 overall pick. Yes, they need help at edge. And if Downs is still available, you can't say no. But if not, adding Tate, Lemon or even Sadiq would give Mahomes...

On today's Call Sheet podcast, we break out our first Mail Bag segment with questions from our listeners, including how Sean Mannion revive Philly's offense, whether the Steelers should think WR or OL in Round 1, and much more! open.spotify.com/episode/2kkwGJ… podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

Your daily reminder that coaching matters. Eagles 2024 offense (left) and ‘25 offense (right). The ‘24 unit under Kellen Moore was 1st in explosives, 2nd in rushing, 6th in PPG. The ‘25 unit under Kevin Patullo was 27th/18th/19th in those areas. Personnel was nearly identical

Let’s do a little chalk talk on one of my favorite formations in football: Wing Empty. If you’re willing to run your QB between the tackles, this presents problems for almost any defensive structure.

My latest @SteelCNetwork article is out, looking at why the Steelers should operate with a lineman’s mentality in this draft: steelcurtainnetwork.com/to-play-steele…

My latest article for Pro Football Insiders, profiling draft prospects Reuben Bain and Carnell Tate. profootballinsiders.com/pfi-top-20-pro…

Doing a Mail Bag episode for tomorrow's Call Sheet podcast. Draft-related questions, but also scheme stuff, coaching issues, anything football-related in general. Drop any questions in the comments below and I'll address them on the show. Have some great ones coming in already.

It makes sense if you want a bigger QB you can develop. Experienced player. Has dealt with some adversity and bounced back from it. The team met with him at the Combine and had him in for a Top-30 visit. PIT has three 3rd-Round picks. I'm guessing one is spent on Beck.

Mike McCarthy said recently he hoped to acquire an "AFC North quarterback" in the draft. Meaning, someone who can play in cold weather games, which suggests physical traits like long arms and big hands. I have no intel on this, just a hunch. My guess is they'll take Carson Beck

Interesting article up on X yesterday from @boarddrill on Iowa State’s run game. I love this Rail concept from a Nub set. Really puts the corner in a bind and softens the edge for Q-counter. More and more, I think Nub should be a foundational formation in every offense.