NFL Draft Smokescreens Are Beginning to Surface, like Geno Smith to Jacksonville

Last year, my favorite was the Matt Kalil scuttlebutt just prior to the draft. For weeks, it was clear he was going 3rd to Minnesota. But suddenly, a week before the draft, Kalil had a “sense of entitlement.” And the Vikings had many options. It was all a smokescreen. Minnesota took Kalil ~~3rd~~ 4th, and he had an outstanding year, getting called for one holding penalty (it was declined), and allowing just 5.5 sacks. [PFF had Kalil giving up two sacks in the regular season.]

The first outstanding smokescreen of the 2013 draft involves the Jaguars, a QB and …

I'm always skeptical of draft rumblings during this time of year but I've heard several league sources mention JAX-Geno.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 26, 2013

This is not to impugn Daniel Jeremiah, who was wise enough to preface the tweet with “skeptical of draft rumblings.” He’s terrific – I tried to hire him last year, a fun story we plan on talking about on the podcast – and very plugged it. Where did this Geno Smith-to-Jacksonville rumor begin? Did Geno Smith’s agent selectively leak it to certain people in the league, knowing it would get back to reporters? Or is it more likely the Jaguars selectively placed it with folks knowing if it blows up enough, Oakland, Cleveland, Arizona or Buffalo might fall for it and trade up?

For now, I’ll stick with my mock of Geno Smith going 7th to the Cardinals. The way this could change is if Shariff Floyd of Florida jumps into the Top 2, and then the Raiders at 3 decide the Carson Palmer experiment is over, screw the defense, let’s get a QB. I can’t see the Jaguars taking a QB 2nd.