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Be The GM: Curry Vs. Smith

Authored by Andrew Perna - 13th August, 2009 - 5:25 pm

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There are only four rookies among the 32 players featured in this bracket, and we have matched two of them against one another in today's battle.

For many, deciding between Seattle linebacker Aaron Curry and Rams offense lineman Jason Smith will be the toughest call of the first round.

Neither has played a single down in the NFL, so how can you decide which is the better block to build a team around? There's no simple answer to that question, but a few years from now you'll be able to look back and see how well you judged this pair of youngsters.

Why Curry Is A Franchise Player

If you are looking for a fundamentally sound linebacker, Curry is undoubtedly your man. There was a time prior to April's NFL draft that some felt he had the potential to be the first overall pick, and Seattle was glad to take him with the fourth overall selection.

He won the Dick Butkus award in 2008 as the nation's top linebacker and finished his career at Wake Forest as the school's third-leading tackler of all-time.

Curry played both linebacker and tight end in high school, which proves his tremendous athleticism. He is a perfect example of football's "new breed" of linebacker. He's quick and moves very well. He's not a heavy hitter, but makes up for that in other areas.

Why Smith Is A Franchise Player

Strangely enough, Smith was once a tight end too. His movement is excellent and as a former tight end he'll immediately be one of the most athletic tackles in the NFL. The Rams needed him in the worst way, with Marc Bulger getting pounded last season.

St. Louis hopes that drafting Smith will allow them to immediately turn things around after a rough 2008 campaign. Using that philosophy, the Baylor product might be the better foundation for a franchise.

With that said, many didn't even consider Smith the best tackle in his draft class. RealGM's own Jeff Risdon listed both Eugene Monroe and Andre Smith ahead of him leading up to the draft.

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Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM's Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com

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