The 2019 NFL Draft takes place next weekend, could one of the most famous Louisville football duos be reunited?
Former Louisville football quarterback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Jaylen Smith combined for 13 touchdowns together over two seasons, and more highlight reel plays than you can count on two hands.
After playing together for three seasons, Lamar Jackson left for the NFL Draft in 2018 leaving Jaylen Smith to look to build upon his career best 980 yards and seven touchdowns with a new quarterback in 2018, after the junior receiver passed up on heading to the NFL early.
Heading into his final season for Louisville football, Jaylen Smith was being talked about as a receiver who could potentially be a first or second round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft with a strong showing. Unfortunately for numerous reasons, that didn’t end up happening as Louisville finished with it’s worst record since 1998 and Smith finished with just 550 receiving yards and one touchdown.
After being apart for one year, the 2019 NFL Draft could be what reunites the duo if the Ravens find themselves in a favorable situation to draft Smith.
Jaylen Smith is currently ranked as the 271st best player available in the NFL Draft by CBS Sports, which would keep him from being drafted. But if there’s any team that could take a late round flyer on Smith it would be Baltimore, especially considering their need for a receiver after losing John Brown in free agency and releasing their leading receiver from last season, Michael Crabtree.
When asked about the opportunity to team up with Lamar Jackson in the professional ranks on Glenn Clark Radio, Smith said:
"“It’s just one of those things you can’t help but think about, he’s one of those once-in-a-generation type guys, and I would say it would be a profound experience for me to come and be able to say that my college quarterback was also my NFL quarterback.”"
While there’s nothing at this point linking the Ravens to Smith in the draft, aside from Jackson and Smith spending time working out together this spring, you see NFL General Managers make moves in the draft and free agency to appease their franchise quarterbacks especially if they are low risk like this.
Smith knows that where he ends up isn’t his choice or something that he’s willing to be picky about, saying:
"“I’m open to any and every team that’s willing to give me a chance. I’m not here to pick-and-choose teams; I know it doesn’t work like that. If given the opportunity, teams are going to get a hard-working receiver.”"
After a poor senior season and already having an “injury prone” label attached to him, there is a lot of validity to the former Louisville football receiver slipping down draft boards. But if landing with one of his good friends and the QB that helped him put up career numbers, than that’s something Smith is probably willing to live with.
If healthy, Smith can be an impact player at the NFL level due to his size and speed. He’ll have to prove that to the powers that be during OTA’s and Training Camp, but having an established rapport with the QB could go along way to getting his career off on the right foot.