Nolan Smith

Pos: EDGE

School: Georgia

Ht. 6’2”

Wt. 238

Games Watched: Clemson(2021), Alabama(2021), Alabama(2020)

One Liner: Fiery edge rusher who wins with athleticism, functional strength and explosiveness. 

Strengths: 

  • Elite athlete. Smith tested off the charts at the NFL Combine, and his tape represents a similar jolt of athletic ability on the field. Smith demonstrates high level short area quickness and burst off his stance and has the ability to stick with receivers in zone coverage or potentially man as well if tasked to do so at the next level
  • Very good functional strength. For a player his size, Smith has powerful arms and demonstrates a fiery amount of strength at the POA. He puts in great effort and power generated from his legs to hold up against blocks in the run and eat up space
  • Very good motor. Smith puts in full effort every down, and plays each down like it is his last. Smith will chase plays off to the backside against the run and will compete with lineman to the whistle as a pass rusher. 
  • Very good get off. Smith has an explosive get off and times his first step very well to rush the passer. Smith is able to explode out of his stance and into the chest of opposing lineman at the POA, generating a surprising shock from his functional strength. 
  • Very good bend.  Smith is able to flatten and corner with natural ankle flexion and hip fluidity. His bend is among the best in terms of other speed rushers in this draft, and allows him to keep lineman guessing whether he will use a speed to power move or an outside bend move. 

Weaknesses:

  • Poor frame. It was critical for Smith to weigh in at 240 or above for his style of play, but weighing in in the 230’s creates room for concern as to whether or not he can really be as athletic as he is with more bulk added to his frame. His strength bailed out a smaller frame in college but against big bodies in the NFL this may not work out.
  • Marginal block shedding. Smith will face similar problems in the NFL at first as he lacks moves to disengage at the POA apart from aggressive and violent manuevers generated from his strength. Smith will get held up and often eaten up at the POA if he doesn’t escape first contact, and doesn’t have the arm length to really get good positioning against longer-limbed lineman.
  • Adequate rush arsenal. Smith will need to find other ways to win as a pass rusher apart from using his traits. At the next level, his current method of winning will not be as effective, so it will be critical for him to refine and continue to improve the technicality of his game. 

Overall Assessment: Nolan Smith displays excellent athletic traits, and is a high motor player who has strength for a prospect well above his weight class. Smith brings exciting juice to the field on just about every snap, something that will ease the worries of many teams looking at his frame. Smith can get swallowed up at the POA in the pros if he doesn’t improve the nuances in his shedding and rush attack, but he has the chance to be a great run stopper because of his short area quickness and strength to hold up against blocks in gap and zone schemes. Smith can unleash a dominant pass rush side of his game as well if he bulks up and adds some tools to his rush arsenal.

Scheme Fit: Even front/odd front outside linebacker with versatility to drop back in coverage

Pick Projection: Late 1st

Grade: 6.48