For NFL draft prospects, landing with a strong supporting cast and the right scheme can mean the difference between being an early success and getting the bust label.
For a time, quarterback Geno Smith appeared to be in the latter category. An early second-round pick of the New York Jets in 2013, Smith struggled early in his career before disappearing on a few depth charts and re-emerging as a Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022.
Smith just signed a three-year, $75 million contract—a deal he likely never would have received if not for the opportunity in Seattle. With the Jets, he was saddled with a poor offensive line (sacked 43 times as a rookie) and a lack of quality receivers and was out as the starter after two seasons.
This year's top prospects won't want to wait nearly a decade for their big paydays and should hope that they land in the right situations on day one. While considering factors like scheme fit, roster depth, coaching tendencies and draft positioning, let's examine the situations some of the draft's top prospects should hope to avoid.
Players are listed in alphabetical order.
Jordan Addison, WR, USC: New York Giants
USC wideout Jordan Addison is the third-ranked receiver on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board. In the Scouting Department's latest mock draft, Addison landed with the Buffalo Bills at pick No. 27.
Buffalo would be a good landing spot for the smallish (5'11", 173 pounds) receiver, as he would serve as a complement to Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. The New York Giants should be in play for a receiver two spots earlier.
However, New York is not an ideal destination for Addison. After adding Jamison Crowder and Parris Campbell, the Giants have a strong group of role-playing receivers—a group that also includes Isaiah Hodgins, Wan'Dale Robinson, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton.
What the Giants lack is a go-to No. 1 target, and that isn't Addison. He's more of a speed threat who can make plays after the catch and on designed gadget runs. New York already has a similar receiver in Robinson.
Addison's lack of size and play strength could also be a detriment against more physical defenses, at least until he gains more experience playing against them.
"He has the explosiveness to make defenders miss from time to time, but when corners get their hands on him, he loses all his momentum and is prone to being run into the boundary," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "Moreover, Addison is up and down at the catch point as a result of his poor play strength."
In New York, Addison would repeatedly go up against the talented and physical secondaries of the rival Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
The Giants' playoff window is open now, and they'd be better off pursuing a pro-ready receiver like Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba or a bigger possession receiver like SMU's Rashee Rice.
Addison, meanwhile, would be best-served by landing in an offense that features at least one established top-tier perimeter receiver, if not two. Teams like Buffalo and Philadelphia would offer Addison a best-case scenario.
