Kansas City Chiefs: Five 2014 First Round Picks to Watch For in 2018
By Ben Almquist
Kansas City Chiefs: 5 Guys To Watch For 2018
No. 4: Marcus Smith – DE – Eagles
I’m sure that this first name is a bit of a surprise for Kansas City Chiefs fans. What isn’t a surprise is that the Eagles are declining the 5th year option on Marcus Smith. Over the past few seasons, Smith has simply failed to produce anything for Philly on defense, making this one of the easiest decisions.
However, that decision may be more the fault of Philadelphia than Marcus Smith. Over-drafted by just about two full rounds, Smith was supposed to be a project for a 3-4 defense. The Eagles started out that way, but this past season switched to a 4-3. The 253 lbs (as a rookie) pass rusher was simply overwhelmed.
What is the ceiling for a guy like Marcus Smith? Well, I’m not going to sit here and tell you he’ll be an all-time great. However, in a system that works to his talents, he does have the potential to be a five sack per year guy. That’s not something to laugh about as those players can play a very important role in a 16 game season.