But there are plenty of reasons to believe the Eagles will pass on Smith, provided he even lasts until the fourth pick - their potential $10 million investment in Michael Vick for 2013, the numerous other holes the team has to fill, and the fact that many aren't sold on Smith as a franchise quarterback.
"I think he's more of a [picks No.] 20 to 32 guy," the NFL Network's Mike Mayock said. "I've said that based on watching, I think, six of his games. I'm going to go watch the rest of them. But there's just so many inconsistencies with both Geno Smith and the entire quarterback class that I have trouble banging the table for any of them."
There is no faster way for a moribund franchise to resurrect itself than to find a top-notch quarterback early in the draft.
In the second round in 2011, San Francisco selected Colin Kaepernick with the 36th overall pick, and two seasons later he had the 49ers in the Super Bowl. Russell Wilson went to Seattle a year later in the third round (75th overall pick) and helped guide the Seahawks to the playoffs as a rookie.
The Redskins went the traditional route and drafted Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick last year and had great success with him running the read option.
The Eagles seem likely to select a quarterback in the second or third round such as Florida State's E.J. Manuel, or to take a chance on a guy such as Arizona's Matt Scott.
The 6-foot-5, 237-pound Manuel ran an impressive 4.65 at the combine, while the 6-3, 213-pound Scott, who is about the same size as Smith, ran a 4.69.
Kaepernick and Wilson ran combine 40s just a bit faster than Smith - Kaepernick put up a 4.53 and Wilson wasn't far behind at 4.55. Both had experience running the read option or some variation of it in college. And both were able to keep NFL defenses on their toes with their legs.
Smith ran some read option early on at West Virginia, but said Friday that he didn't think his game was "predicated around that." Still, he said, he would be more than willing to do it in the pros.
"I think that's something I've always been capable of," Smith said. "I think I have the skill set that fits any offense. I can play within the pocket, but I'm athletic enough to run that style of offense."
It's difficult to project how Smith could fare in Kelly's offense, since little is known about how it may look. Kelly continually has said that he will cater his offense to the skill set of his quarterback. But it is fair to presume that he prefers a quarterback who can move in and around the pocket.
Smith, at 6-2, 218 pounds, flashed more than speed at the combine. He had the best broad jump among quarterbacks (124 inches) and the second-highest vertical leap (331/2 inches).
He threw well on Sunday, according to most observers, but floated a number of passes. Scouts won't place much emphasis on his combine performance, since he was throwing to receivers he was not familiar with.
"Everything I saw on tape, I saw today," Mayock said. "He's a natural thrower, doesn't force the ball."
Smith's issues this past season came when he was under duress. He made poor decisions, especially in the second half of the season as West Virginia lost six of its final eight games, including a 38-14 loss to Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Some say Smith's reluctance to run hindered his effectiveness. Those close to the 22-year-old say he was determined to prove that he could be a pocket passer when he came to Morgantown. He proved it, and now his athleticism could help him become the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
It's a long shot, as Mayock pointed out, but all it takes is one team. Andy Reid and the Chiefs have the top pick. The Jaguars and Raiders follow. If all three pass, assuming there isn't a trade, the Eagles are next.
Contact Jeff McLane at jmclane@phillynews.com. Follow on Twitter @Jeff_McLane.
