Gene Smith is perhaps most famous (or infamous) for not drafting Tim Tebow in the 2010 NFL Draft. And let’s face it, you wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t know who the hell Smith is. He was the man who drafted Tyson Alualu, a projected second round defensive tackle, rather than the “savior” of the franchise. Never was there a hometown guy that was so desperately wanted by some fans to be drafted to a team.

Some. Not all. Not even half.

Well, it never happened. Smith selected California’s Tyson Alualu with the tenth overall selection.

Alu-Who?

Looking back, for me, it was the right choice over Tebow, but there were others who were projected better than Alualu at the time and came out as better players so far in their NFL career. Earl Thomas could’ve helped a woeful Jacksonville secondary or Jason Pierre-Paul could’ve helped cure the Jaguars’ anemic pass rush. But hindsight is 20/20, I guess.

Smith was quoted later that night by Sports Illustrated’s Peter King as saying, “I don’t give a damn about perception. I’m trying to win a Super Bowl.”

Well, that Super Bowl never came to fruition. Not even close. Smith’s penchant for drafting small school players and having more misses than hits in free agency cost him his job in the end.  Not to mention his roster earned the Jaguars their worst record in franchise history.

It wasn’t all bad, however. His first draft was arguably his best, producing solid players in Eugene Monroe, Derek Cox, and Terrance Knighton. Although now Knighton and Cox have moved on to the Broncos and the Chargers respectively.

Here is my ranking of each of Smith’s draft picks from his tenure as GM of the Jaguars. Continue reading →