
Quarterback Geno Smith spoke out against a harsh Pro Football Weekly scouting report that critiques his physical skills, football acumen and leadership ability.
“It’s untrue in all things,” Smith told USA TODAY sports Wednesday. “I heard about it (Monday) night when my quarterbacks coach (Jake Spavital) called me to tell me about it.”
PFW’s draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki authored the report that lists among former Smith’s negatives that he is “not a student of the game,” “does not command respect from teammates and cannot inspire,” is “not committed or focused” and “cannot handle hard coaching.”
Smith visited the Kansas City Chiefs, who own the No. 1 overall pick, on Monday night and Tuesday. He visited the Philadelphia Eagles, who own the No. 4 selection, on Wednesday.
“A cross between Akili Smith and Aaron Brooks, Smith is a gimmick, overhyped product of the system lacking the football savvy, work habits and focus to cement a starting job and could drain energy from a QB room. Will be over-drafted and struggle to produce against NFL defensive complexities,” Nawrocki wrote.
Nawrocki also criticized Cam Newton before the Carolina Panthers selected him first overall in 2011 and offered harsh assessments of many other players, including Matt Leinart. Before the 2012 draft, Nawrocki wrote “RG3 had more upside” than No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck.
Spavital, who now coaches Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M, told USA TODAY that he was “laughing” with Smith when discussing the report.
“I thought he was one of the hardest-working quarterbacks I’ve ever been around,” he told the paper. “You have people who are about ‘What can football do for me?’ Geno is about ‘What I can do for football?’ If you take the game away from him, I think he dies.”
Citing a league source, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that Smith is one of 19 players invited by the NFL to attend the draft.
The others: Texas A&M offensive tackle, Luke Joeckel, Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel, Alabama guard Chance Warmack, Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner, North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper, Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson, BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro, Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher, Florida State offensive tackle Menelik Watson, Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes, West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin, SMU defensive end Margus Hunt, LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo and Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner.