Penn State offensive lineman Donovan Smith was the second pick of the second night of the draft. He will be one of the key pieces of an offensive line that will now be tasked with protecting the draft’s first overall player, quarterback Jameis Winston.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted their franchise quarterback with the first overall pick on Day 1 of the 2015 NFL Draft. Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston, long expected to be the top pick by the Bucs, was crowned as the number one pick to the surprise of almost nobody. On Day 2 of the NFL Draft, the mission of the Bucs was pretty clear. The Bucs needed to find players that will provide protection for their franchise quarterback. Enter Penn State offensive tackle Donovan Smith.
Smith did not have to wait around for very long Friday night. After the New York Giants traded up to grab the first pick of the second round, the Tampa Bay Bucs were prepared to move quickly with their second pick of the draft. Without hesitation, the Bucs selected Smith with the second pick of the evening. They were not done putting the pieces together on the offensive line though. Later in the second round the Bucs picked up offensive guard Ali Marpet from Division 3 Hobart (first player ever to be drafted from the D3 program). Both Smith and Marpet are expected to slide right into starting jobs.
Smith is the first Penn State player drafted by Tampa Bay since Alan Zemaitis in 2006. He is the first offensive lineman drafted by the franchise since tackle Ron Heller went in the fourth round of the 1984 draft. His second-round selection proves his decision to leave early was worth the gamble. The NFL draft advisory board recommended he stay in school for one more season (and I’m guilty of thinking the same thing), but he came on strong leading up to the draft and was pegged as a potential first round draft pick by some scouts. After being picked with the second pick of the second round, that first round projection proved to not be an unfair assessment.
Smith was the only Penn State player drafted last night, and thus the only Nittany Lion through three rounds. Today is the final day of the draft, and the picks tend to fly by in the final four rounds. Will any Nittany Lions be in the flurry of picks?
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