The Georgia product does have a few traits and moves in his pass-rush arsenal that he can win with on passing downs, though. Matt Millers recent ESPN mock draft has him going with the No. Philadelphia selected Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith with the 30th pick of the draft on Thursday after choosing his teammate, defensive tackle Jalen Carter, with the ninth pick earlier in the night. OLB Nolan Smith: NFL Draft scouting report, When should Pirates fans buy into this team? Due to his stellar run defense, Smith projects as a potential three-down defender in year one. Run defense can be an area of concern for smaller EDGE prospects, but its a massive strength for Smith, and his athleticism translates extremely well in pursuit. On passing downs, he times up the snap well and has good acceleration off the ball to win with speed. With Marcus Davenport becoming a pending free agent and a lacking pass rush from, the . Nolan Smith stole the show at the NFL Combineas he put up shocking number after shocking number. Smith navigates through blocking assignments as well and is persistent in his pursuit of the ball carrier. 9 overall pick. The Philadelphia Eagles picked up a second former Georgia star by selecting Nolan Smith with the 30th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. There is also some concern over his frame. Smith had seven tackles for a loss and three sacks over eight games in his final collegiate season. Already, Smith is a high-level run defender. Lions 2023 NFL draft profile: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech. Smith is a very impressive athlete with excellent playing strength for his size. Note: This profile will be updated as more. Games watched: Alabama 2021 (SEC Title), Oregon 2022, South Carolina 2022 . Smith was arguably their greatest addition. Smith is quite thin to be playing against bigger offensive linemen, and while he was not swallowed up in college by any means, there is a possibility of that happening with the bigger and better athletes in the NFL. Original: Jun 13, 2022. His punches land with the power to shock blockers but shedding is still a work in progress. Heres a scouting report on Smith from NFL.coms Lance Zierlein: Lower weight class edge defender with the toughness to mix it up with bigger players. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles selected Georgia EDGE rusher Nolan Smith with the No. He could play as a standup outside linebacker on odd fronts, too. One year after a historic 2022 NFL Draft class, the Georgia Bulldogs are once again poised to dominate Round 1, and standout EDGE Nolan Smith is a crucial part of that development. You can view the full scouting report for Smith on NFL . Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith is one of the top prospects, regardless of position, as the college football season progresses and we look ahead to the 2023 NFL Draft. And that same athleticism can allow Smith to be a space defender, as well as destroy outside gaps in run defense. Background: Rotated into the defense in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, posting 18-2.5-2.5 and 21-2.5-2.5 in his first two years over . Smiths projection is different from those who came before him, but with his explosive athleticism and exciting upside, he could be a game-changer in the NFL. He should not go lower than early in Round 2. Smith is a former five-star recruit and finalist for the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year award as a senior. The Eagles will be back on the clock Friday night, beginning with the 62nd overall selection, which will be the 31st pick in the second round. . He's likely going to have trouble with pressure on first and second downs as he won't be able to win with speed getting off the ball so late and struggles to collapse the pocket as a bull-rusher. He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. Will not work to the same way at the next level, Trouble stacking counters with initial moves, Struggles with momentum when met by bigger stronger linemen. Updated: Apr 27, 2023 11:56 PM EDT. Lastly, Smith has proven he can identify screens and shade out into coverage with his lateral athleticism, and he has more than enough speed to close gaps in this phase. Lateral Quickness ( 2.5/4) - I don't see a ton of lateral quickness ability. In a modern NFL where coaches are becoming more and more open to versatility, Smith could perfectly fit the mold of a hybrid outside linebacker with SAM and on-ball pass-rushing capabilities. The Georgia edge rusher developed more pass-rushing moves and became dominant against the run. He kept that primary role in his four years with the Bulldogs, becoming a full-time starter in 2021. As he heads to the NFL, will professional evaluators have the same lofty opinion of his potential? All rights reserved (About Us). Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Once the top-ranked recruit coming out of high school, Smith saw immediate action upon arrival in Athens. Hes very good in coverage when looking into the backfield in zone coverage. Reddick (6-1, 240) and Smith are almost identical in size and possess explosive speed off the edge. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Neither do we. The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz breaks down Giannis postgame comments following the Bucks first-round exit vs. the Heat. Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Smith, including his high school and college accolades, scouting report and NFL prospect outlook. But his athletic traits lend him impressive pass-rushing upside as well. Below is a list of mock drafts and where they have Smith going. Eventual Starter. 19), tight end Darnell Washington (No. However, few, if any, prospects have the same athleticism, bend, and size-relative strength that Smith has. As his testing numbers at the NFL Combine exemplify, Smith is a tremendous athlete. His first step, when used properly, can propel him upfield and into action quickly. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. Smith is unrefined, almost predictably boring, as a pass rusher, because he doesnt use his speed or explosion effectively. 12 overall pick. Has some injury concerns - has missed time in both 2021 and 2022, He may need to be covered up to be effective and can be neutralized by running at him, Smith's hand usage will need be cleaner and more coordinated, He relies far too much on speed and doesn't have a complete set of pass-rushing moves, He's overly reliant on bull rushes - dominates smaller college players. One of the holdovers of the historic 2021 Georgia defense, Smith flashed the ability to take over in 2022 before an injury prematurely ended his season. Injuries: 2021 (elbow, missed one game), 2022 (torn pec, season-ending surgery and missed every game after Week 9), Arrested for driving with a suspended license and speeding through a construction zone (misdemeanor) in January 2022, completed pre-trail diversion program in lieu of formal conviction, 2022 Honors: Second-team preseason All-American (Athlon Sports), 2021 Honors: Two-time SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 3 and 9), 2019 Honors: Georgia's Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Smith became the starting OLB/EDGE for the Bulldogs in 2021. Takes on blocks with a wide base and is stronger than his 235-pound frame would suggest to hold his ground versus offensive tackles. Check out Nolan Smith's full 247Sports profile, here. He sets up his stick moves well by getting to square and giving himself a two-way go, and he has the bend to turn tight corners when winning around the edge. Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. Hes a nimble mover with a naturally fast play pace and can stunt with rare quickness. List of teams that have advanced to second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Updated bracket heading into second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, How to watch Avalanche vs. Kraken in Game 7 of first round in 2023 NHL Playoffs via live stream, Kings outlook heading into 2023 offseason, Everything you need to know for Warriors vs. Lakers in the second round of 2023 NBA playoffs. He can also pinch incredibly tight angles with his ankle flexion and accelerate through to invade the pocket. He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. Even with his frame, he plays with violence and urgency, has excellent leverage acquisition, and uses his explosive athleticism and flexibility to dominate in congested areas. MORE: PFNs FREE Mock Draft Simulator (With Trades). Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available. Smiths ability to work well in tight quarters or in a wide-nine alignment can put offensive tackles in conflict. He was the co-winner of the Defensive Newcomer of the Year award for Georgia in 2019, putting up 2.5 sacks in rotational action. The Georgia product does have a few traits and moves in his pass-rush arsenal that he can win with on passing downs, though. Impressive change of direction and quickness to win with inside and outside stick moves. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Over the next couple of months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up to the 2023 NFL draft. Its a weird amalgamation. 5-Star recruit per 247 Sports. An enticing blend of size and athleticism, One of the most physical players in college football, A two-way defender, impactful versus the run and pass, Can be viewed as a tweener/hybrid defender without a defined role, Hand-to-hand combat skills need improvement, : Attacking/slanting assignments in an odd front, : Oregon (2022), South Carolina (2022), Auburn (2022), Missouri (2022), Tradeable picks in the Mock Draft Machine. He will make his impact felt as a run defender and earn his keep, as he develops in the pass-rush department. (AP Photo/John Amis). Hes a dense, compact defender who can shock blockers at the point of attack with precise and forceful hands. The Georgia EDGE has the tools to be dynamic in that phase. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 3:23 pm ET, Cowboys NFL Draft hub: Full list of picks, team fits, 2023 NFL Draft: Best prospects available in Round 5, Greatness is guaranteed when LeBron, Steph clash, Looking ahead to No. He adds an additional layer in pass coverage as well, where his speed and length take over once more; Smith can fairly reliably drop into coverage with backs and tight ends. The Athletic recently projected Smith to the Houston Texans with the No. Georgia. NFL Draft profile scouting report for Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith. Odds and lines subject to change. 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating. Sign up to receive all the latest news and annoucements. He recorded just 8 tackles, 5 assists, while adding 13 stops. Copyright 2019-2023. He kept that primary role in his four years with the Bulldogs, becoming a full-time starter in 2021. Smith hopes to get selected just as highly as he enters the 2023 NFL draft. Click Here. Smith is a former five-star recruit and finalist for the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year award as a senior. Even after a long career at Georgia, Smith is still more of a projection than one would prefer. A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Nolan Smith arrived at Georgia as one of the top recruits in the country in 2019 and played immediately as a pass-rush specialist. But if a team thinks they'll be able to add size to his frame in their weight program, he's strong and physical enough as it is to get the job done. He can be more consistent and efficient employing his athleticism, and his speed to power, while solid, is hindered at times by his lack of elite mass and length. But he triumphantly announced his return at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, logging a 4.39 40-yard dash, 41.5 vertical, and a 108 broad jump at his size. Based purely upon his sleek but smallish frame, one might expect him to be more effective as a rusher than run defender but the opposite is true. 1 recruit of the 2019 class, Smith has been a highly touted prospect for quite some time. Nolan Smith from IMG Academy High School was rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 5-star grade by 247 Sports. Nolan Smith is an edge rusher who lacks the bulk to hold up blockers or walk them back. Who will Panthers face in second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs? He gets extension against offensive linemen pretty easily and will occasionally have them falling on their faces with how violent he is when shedding. Scouting Report Evaluated 08/23/2018. Banks (6-foot, 197 pounds) earned one of the top NGS athleticism scores (98) among prospects to . Long story short, he has very few flaws against the run and has the upside to be even better with some added mass. Gives the ability to play any edge and linebacker position. News never stops. The defensive standout projects as an early round selection. Smith isnt perfect operationally yet, but he undoubtedly has the want-to. His lack of size and length are better-suited for a transition to more of a SAM backer than a full EDGE, though he doesnt have the lateral agility or experience to play there right away. Sign up for the Lions Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. (21%*), 32 5/8 1 pick for '24 NFL Draft, Report: Bucs star Barrett's daughter, 2, drowns in pool, Track where undrafted NFL free agents are signing, Curry's GOAT case continues to grow with historic Game 7, NFL schedule release target date, plus 5 things we know, Hobbled Butler, Heat are playoff problem-solvers, 2019: Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year (team awards banquet), 2021 (vs. Michigan): Career-high seven QB pressures. Smith could emerge as a more impactful pass rusher in the same position James Houston currently occupies. Smith is viewed in high regard by his teammates and coaches as a dynamic leader in the locker room. Smarts Bulldogs staff relentlessly recruited the nations top talent for years. Is it ever too early to start talking about next year's draft? Most effective when uncovered inside and chasing stretch plays to the sideline. And in the right hands, he can be an invaluable defensive piece. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Athleticism Score: 98. No. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports. Didn't look comfortable dropping into coverage. A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. By Tom Ignudo. Unfortunately, early in the Bulldogs ninth game, Smith suffered a torn pectoral and was lost for the rest of the season. While he is not fully developed as a pass rusher, there are clear signs of potential in his unreal speed for his size and frame that will be up to the right team to unlock. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). Going further, Smith shows glimpses of multitasking, and hes flashed the ability to use swift hand strikes and swipes while bending. He mirrored that production in 2020 and took another step forward in the teams championship-winning 2021 campaign. A product of the famed IMG Academy, Smith had a recorded 4.51 40-yard dash, a 4.15 shuttle time, and a 39.6 vertical out of high school. Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nakobe Dean are always together, but on Thursday night, they were officially reunited in a business capacity . If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. Height: 6-foot-2. With his mobility, the Georgia EDGE can be a nightmare for space runners in pursuit. As a result, Smith is a difficult task to block in the run game, especially for tight ends.