Steven Smith

Smith’s 107-catch 1,220-yard 2009 season seems like an awfully long time ago. A bad knee limited to just nine games in each of the last two seasons, and last year in Philadelphia, he was an afterthought even when he played. At 5-11, 190, and with just average speed, Smith is a possession receiver, but he’s got good hands and runs excellent routes. Smith underwent microfracture surgery in January 2011, something that typically takes two years from which to recover fully, and the Rams signed him in the hope that he’ll be back at full strength. If so, he could push for a prominent role in the Rams passing game.

After a 2009 breakout during which he caught 107 balls, Smith missed seven games last year to pectoral and knee injuries, the latter of which puts his status for the start of 2011 in question. Otherwise, Smith was more or less than same player. He averaged only 7.1 as opposed to 7.8 YPT, and he was on pace for close to an 80- rather than 100-catch season, but he was once again the team's best possession and third-down option, leaving the red-zone mostly to Hakeem Nicks and the downfield action to Mario Manningham. Smith had microfracture surgery to repair the torn articular cartilage in his left knee in January and is expected to begin running again in June. However, the Giants were a little iffy on his recovery and he signed a one-year deal to join the division-rival Eagles. Smith could miss a few early games, but he's a solid option for a team already deep with receiver talent.

The fourth most targeted receiver in the NFL, Smith hauled in a whopping 68 percent of the balls thrown his way. The result? He finished second in the league with 107 catches. Smith is a first-rate possession receiver, running crisp routes and using his quickness to separate from defenders and find open space. He has good hands, and he’s typically Eli Manning’s first look on third down. At 5-11, 190, Smith isn’t big, and he doesn’t have blazing speed. Manning targeted him 24 times in the red zone last year (tied for 4th), but only nine of those looks were from inside the 10 (tied for 10th). As a result, Smith doesn’t have a lot of scoring upside. Smith had just two catches of 40 yards or more and averaged just 11.4 yards per catch and 7.8 yards per target — more or less what you’d expect from someone whose job it is to move the chains rather than stretch the defense.

At press time it’s hard to know whether Smith will be the Giants’ top target, reprise his role as the team’s third down/slot man or something in between. As it stands, Smith and Domenik Hixon are slated to start, but the team used its first and third-round picks on receivers, and had expressed interest in both Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards at various times during the offseason. Taking the situation at face value, Smith could easily evolve into the team’s top target. Last year, Smith was effective on short routes, converting 70 percent of his targets into receptions. Of course, he wasn’t standing very far from Eli Manning – and averaged just 10 yards per catch as a result. At 6-0, 195, Smith has just average size, and he’s not much of a threat to beat defenses deep. But Smith has good quickness, soft hands and runs precise routes. He has the trust of his quarterback and could evolve into a Bobby Engram type should the Giants stand pat with their current receiving corps.

Smith had a lackluster rookie campaign in the regular season, but showed some of his potential during the Giants' Super Bowl run. In the playoffs, Smith totaled 14 catches for 152 yards. The breakout was in large part due to the absence of Jeremy Shockey. Smith is locked in as the third receiver, but will see competition from David Tyree and Mario Manningham. With Amani Toomer getting long in the tooth and the possibility of Shockey being traded, Smith could be a breakout performer for the Giants.

The Giants' second round pick in '07 will vie with Sinorice Moss for the Giants' No. 3 receiver job. Given that Amani Toomer is coming off of a torn ACL, there's a signficant opening for Moss or Smith to have a big role in the team's passing game. Smith was timed at 4.48 in the 40 - not blazing speed, but fast enough to play outside. He's also sure handed and used to big games from his days at USC.