(AP Photo/John Amis). Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Smith might have a tougher time holding up against the bigger and more physical offensive tackles at the next level with his lean frame, but he has plenty of room for growth to add 10 to 15 pounds. Nolan Smith EDGE - Scouting Report - Belly Up Sports Nolan Smith NFL Draft Scouting Report - Draft Network Gambling Problem? Works to get to square during the stem phase of a rush to give himself a two-way go and has a nice hesitation/skip move to win around the edge. And it all started to come together for him over the last two seasons at Georgia after grading below 70.0 in each of his first two college seasons, he earned overall grades of 85.0 (2021) and 83.7 (2022) to finish his career. Nolan Smith is one of the most enticing prospects in this draft. Full List of Georgia Players Drafted in Each Round of 2023 NFL Draft As a true junior, Smith enjoyed success alongside Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, and others, putting up 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 14 starts. 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. Needs to be more consistent with the accuracy of his hand swipes when starting pass-rush moves. Physical at the point of attack and has pop in his hands to get extension and shed blocks from offensive tackles fairly easily. Schematically, Smith's weight might be an issue for an even-front team that's looking for a more traditional, hand-in-the-ground defensive end. 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. Smith has an unconventional body type for an NFL. He throws off the offensive lineman's angle while simultaneously dipping his shoulder to reduce the surface area to block, getting the lineman off-balance so he can get penetration. 2023 NFL Draft: Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith among Day 1's top value picks If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. As Smith's NFL Draft Bible profile reads, "Smith does a great job to set the edge and uses his length to stack and shed, often closing a rushing lane plus making the tackle for a stuff. Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Smith, including his high school and college accolades, scouting report and NFL prospect outlook. Ryan Wilsons CBS Sports mock draft from last weekend has him going 30th overall to the Eagles. But if you have a vision for his role and development at the next level, the tools are almost second to none. Reddick (6-1, 240) and Smith are almost identical in size and possess explosive speed off the edge. Note: This profile will be updated as more. 9 overall pick. Smith delivered a stellar follow-up campaign, registering seven tackles for loss and three sacks as Georgia went undefeated. That being said, he does have good athleticism to flush that part of his game out. And in the right hands, he can be an invaluable defensive piece. He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. The Philadelphia Eagles picked up a second former Georgia star by selection Nolan Smith with the 30th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. There is also some concern over his frame. With Marcus Davenport becoming a pending free agent and a lacking pass rush from, the . Hes a dense, compact defender who can shock blockers at the point of attack with precise and forceful hands. His power rushes can be easily absorbed and neutralized by stronger blockers. Nolan Smith. There is a bit of a disconnect between Smiths buzz as a prospect and his on-field production. 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. Detroit Lions NFL scouting report Georgia Bulldogs Nolan Smith - Sports According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Smith is a projected first-round pick. 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. "We have a trade" was a common refrain during the 2023 NFL draft. Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder. A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. section: | slug: nolan-smith-nfl-draft-2023-scouting-report-prospect-ranking-recruiting-profile-more-about-georgia-edge | sport: football | route: article_single_special | Impressive change of direction and quickness to win with inside and outside stick moves, especially if he can be more consistent with his use of hands. He gets extension against offensive linemen pretty easily and will occasionally have them falling on their faces with how violent he is when shedding. He will need to work with trainers to fill out his frame and add some play strength while he is at it. 2023 NFL Draft: Full List of Eagles draft picks after Kelee Ringo His punches land with the power to shock blockers but shedding is still a work in progress. Due to his stellar run defense, Smith projects as a potential three-down defender in year one. He can get off the mark as a rusher, but lacks the counters and contact balance to consistently assault the pocket at a high rate. Kirby Smart didnt stumble on his abundance of defensive talent by accident. 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. Scheme Fit: Attacking/slanting assignments in an odd front, TDN Consensus Grade: 81.00/100 (Second-Round Value), Exposures: Oregon (2022), South Carolina (2022), Auburn (2022), Missouri (2022). 12 overall pick. The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz breaks down Giannis postgame comments following the Bucks first-round exit vs. the Heat. Georgia Bulldogs Football Nolan Smith NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Georgia Edge BR NFL Scouting Department Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images HEIGHT: 6'2" WEIGHT: 238 HAND:. Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Philadelphia Eagles? Named one of three team captains for the Vanderbilt game. Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available. 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. By Tony Pauline April 19, 2023 He employs effortless leverage acquisition in run defense and can combine pad level and agility with violent hand usage to deconstruct blocks. Dylan Sanders. 9 overall pick, beginning with the 62nd overall selection. And his non-elite length is a limitation thats here to stay. He has always been viewed as a project who possesses rare speed and athleticism for an edge defender. And with his speed off the ball and serviceable length, he can work speed to power, long-arm his blockers outside shoulder, and stack rips in quick succession. As a run defender Smith shines through, using that same combination of speed and strength to attack through offensive linemen and wrap up ball carriers. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine He has an explosive first step and can surge downhill into blockers, leveraging his burst into power. PFNs FREE Mock Draft Simulator (With Trades). You can view the full scouting report for Smith on NFL . The Philadelphia Eagles currently hold two first-round picks . He can also be more consistent in applying his bend with synergy and loses his balance when attempting to bend around the edge at times. Smith will always try to plow into the largest piles and has a good knack of ending up glued to the ballcarrier. 20th-ranked prospect of all-time. NFL Draft Profile: Philadelphia Eagles Select Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith Not very effective in line games as the looper or penetrator. His first step, when used properly, can propel him upfield and into action quickly. 6.4. Pro Football Network, LLC. Add him to yourbig boardhere. While Smiths arsenal is still in progress, he can effectively build off lateral bursts with quick swipes. --CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards (Oct. 4). His hands, at their best, are amped-up and possess surprising knock-back power. Copyright 2019-2023. The New Orleans Saints got back into the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, and have a wide range of ways that they could go with their selection. He did get more accurate with his hands from year-to-year, showing growth in that area. His get-off is much slower and more deliberate on running downs, which makes it more difficult for him to win around the edge if the offense does pass and leads to a slower run-pass transition versus play action. Smith will be taken in the first round on potential alone. However, he's certainly a run-first player, which has a distinct impact on his get-off in rushing situations. 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. 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. Impressive change of direction and quickness to win with inside and outside stick moves. 30 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith. He shows . He will make his impact felt as a run defender and earn his keep, as he develops in the pass-rush department. He does not have a wide pass-rushing toolbox, but he makes up for that with the ability to overwhelm with pure speed, strength, and flexibility. Smith falls below the size standards some team might have for a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he plays team-first defense with quality technique that should help him translate to the pros. 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating. Interestingly, run defense is where Smiths traits translate best or at least most consistently. 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. With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely. Grade. Nolan Smith NFL Draft 2023: Scouting report, prospect ranking However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off. He can also change directions quickly, is very light-footed in space, and has the athleticism and fluidity to drop into coverage and roam to the sideline. 2023 NFL Draft Nolan Smith Scouting Report The former number one overall recruit from 2019 may not be the first pass rusher off the board this draft, but he may just be the one generating the most buzz. But even more important in his competitive makeup is his natural leverage.