Jimmy Smith comes with some baggage.

Jimmy Smith‘s issues off the field are typically viewed one of two ways, you’re either an optimist like me and you want to believe that since the last incident in 2007 he has turned a corner and is committed to being an elite NFL talent. Or you could be like Michael David Smith of PFT and assume he’s still rotten. Jimmy Smith was honest at the combine about his previous mistakes and off-the-field issues, including admitting to three failed drug tests (up from the reported two) including one for codeine abuse.

Smith’s character problems (which also reportedly include issues with alcohol, getting women pregnant and an arrest for assault) are so voluminous that a survey of 24 personnel executives found 11 of them wouldn’t even take him in the second round, let alone the first.

Smith’s issues off the field have split NFL GM’s in terms of who is willing to take a chance and who isn’t. As it was stated in a recent Rotoworld Report:

“He’s as athletically gifted as Asomugha,” an NFC personnel director said. “He’s got all the ability in the world. He also could be a supreme punk.” Don Gregory of the Panthers believes Smith will be a “shutdown corner” while the Ravens’ Eric DeCosta calls him an “elite corner.” One executive is convinced Smith is a “carbon copy of Aqib Talib,” right down to the behavioral problems. “Two abortions, aggravated assault, two minors in possession, three failed drug tests (including one for misusing codeine),” said the exec, “that’s a little excessive.”

That’s a lot of knocks on Smith coming out the morning of the draft, the reports originated in a Milwaukee paper up in Packers country, it would be interesting if this was all a big smoke screen in the hopes Smith falls to the Packers at 32. That’s probably not the case though. From my own research I was under the impression that Smith was rough around the edges but had turned a corner. To me, his honesty in regard to past indiscretions indicates a guy who is trying to move forward, why would he be honest about that stuff if he had intentions to continue doing it? Still, codeine is a serious drug and after JaMarcus Russell pretty much ruined his career on the stuff, a lot of teams see that as a huge red flag. The bit about him being a carbon copy of Talib is troubling too. It ‘s looking less and less likely Smith has any chance of ending up in Tampa.

Jimmy Smith is a big, talented corner.

With all the recent issues surrounding the Buccaneers and their secondary, it’s looking more and more like the Bucs will spend one of their top picks on a defensive back, and odds are they will be doing the same again next year as well. In the first round this year, consensus pretty much has the Bucs selecting a defensive end or possibly an outside linebacker to help with the pass-rush. This is a deep class for pass-rushers and the Bucs should have their pick of several at 20th overall.

They could take another tact though, whereas there are a good group of pass-rushing ends and linebackers to pick from, after the first two or three corners the quality of the prospects drops off quite a bit. If the Bucs are really serious about improving their secondary at corner, they may need to do it in round one. Chances are they can still find a solid pass-rusher in round two.

The Bucs will not have a chance at Patrick Peterson, that’s a foregone conclusion. Barring something unforeseen, Prince Amukamara will not be available either, though if he is there at 20 the Bucs should take him without question. The player whose name keeps coming up with regard to Tampa is Jimmy Smith of Colorado. Smith is a big, athletic corner that comes with plenty of upside but a few recurring questions about his character as well. On paper, he would actually fit into the Buccaneers defensive scheme extremely well but after the off-the-field issues with the last corner the Bucs took out of the Big 12, you can understand the hesitation.

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Patrick Peterson is the best player in the 2011 NFL Draft.

The Bucs enter 2011 with a bit of uncertainty at corner. Ronde Barber is getting a little long in the tooth and Aqib Talib can’t keep out of trouble. The Bucs seemed pretty set at the position just a couple of months ago, but today things don’t look so clear. If the Bucs weren’t considering drafting a corner this year before, they almost have to now. Regardless of what determination the team comes to on Aqib Talib this year, I don’t see them wanting to invest a lot in him long-term. Either this year or next the Bucs are going to need to target a top-tier corner.

This isn’t a bad class for corners, but in truth there are really only two or three clear-cut studs in the class and a lot of prospects with questions facing them. The Bucs, at 20, likely won’t get the top two corners in the class and will have to decide whether or not they want to roll the dice on another DB with potential character issues. Chances are Tampa will look front seven in round one, spend a mid-round pick on a corner and then revisit the position in free agency or again next year.

Here are the top corners in the 2011 NFL Draft:

1.) Patrick Peterson, LSU – Peterson is the unquestioned best player in the 2011 NFL Draft. How dominant was Peterson last year in college? He won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defender, the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back and was named the SEC’s Defensive and Special Teams MVP’s. And he did it as a junior. Peterson is just 20 but he has the kind of athleticism and instincts that rarely come in one package, he combines ideal size for a corner with 4.31 speed and freakish athletic ability. There are little things here and there that Peterson can address to improve his game, but he is the most complete player with arguably the highest ceiling of anyone in the 2011 draft class. Peterson will be out-of-the-box ready for the NFL, he’ll contribute immediately on defense and special teams (he is an elite return-man) and should develop into an upper-echelon cover corner.

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