College: Arkansas

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 268 pounds

Class: Senior

Positives

Explosiveness and Power

Generally, Smith is not primarily a speed rusher, but he quickly gets in the face of opposing lineman. Before Smith drives his legs, he knocks lineman off their set with a disgustingly powerful punch. The strength behind the blow allows him to take advantage of the lineman being off balanced.  He explodes off of the snap and drives through his man, forcing him into the quarterback’s lap. When Smith gets locked up, he has the brute strength to toss lineman aside and create space to get around them or force the lineman into a holding penalty. Either way, Smith wins the play. Such initial burst and strength is more commonly seen on obvious passing situations because Smith has a clear mentality to be a sole pass rushing specialist.

Length and Rush Moves

Length alone does not mean much, but when one understands how to use it, they can be a deadly pass rusher. Smith has impressive arm length and understands how to use it to his advantage. He extends his arms and creates room for himself to function, as opposed to constantly allowing lineman into his frame. Likewise, Smith knows not to take the same approach every time he rushes. He knows that in order to win more often, he needs to be unpredictable. Although it would be nice to see him develop even more moves, Smith has a lethal spin move and, while it is not his strong suit, is not entirely limited from attacking the edge.

Negatives

Disinterest

Talent wise, Smith is not a transcendent talent, but he can be productive. Unfortunately, unless a coach sparks a fire within him, Smith is limited to being purely a pass rusher. When taking on the run, he plays without urgency and with noticeably less energy. When coming off the snap, he is noticeably slower. He wants to do nothing more than attack the quarterback. Being the athlete he is, it is frustrating to see him waste such talent because he does not feel like playing that down.

Mediocre Agility

As stated, Smith’s primary game is not speed rushing. When bending around the edge, he simply is not quick enough or flexible enough to do so on a consistent basis. In open space, his speed is average, at best, and his change of direction is rather sluggish. In tight spaces, it is not too much of an issue considering his burst, but when he needs to cover more ground, he often fails.

NFL Comparison

Adrian Clayborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Like Smith, Clayborn is more suited to win with his strength than his speed. Although, he is not completely limited as a speed rusher, it is not his specialty. Size-wise, Clayborn is slightly heavier, but with NFL training programs, Smith will end up within a few pounds of Clayborn.

Draft Outlook

Smith is an explosive, powerful pass rusher that will certainly draw attention, but his disinterest and laziness may scare them off. Purely based off talent, he could end up in the third round, but again, he may go later due to lack of agility and lack of effort.

Best Fits

With Jared Allen and Everson Griffen both being 2014 free agents, the Minnesota Vikings may be looking for a younger, cheaper alternative than signing the veterans. Their 4-3 scheme is best suited for his abilities.

Similarly, the Dallas Cowboys recent shift to a 4-3 defense is in need of players who fit the scheme better. With Anthony Spencer being a 2014 free agent and George Selvie hitting the market the next year (2015), the Cowboys may be interested in Smith’s young talent.