In 2019 as a freshman Smith saw action in 14 games and played a total of 287 snaps for the Bulldogs. He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles selected Georgia EDGE rusher Nolan Smith with the No. While not the most gifted of pass rushers, he can certainly get there eventually given his talent pool, and he is solid in run defense and pass coverage already. Stats: 110 tackles, 63 solo, 12.5 sacks, 20.0 tackles for loss,1 interception, 3 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery. 30 overall, the second Georgia player taken in the first round of this draft by the team -- and third in the last four years. NFL Draft Profile: Philadelphia Eagles Select Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith He is considered the third-best linebacker prospect in the draft. Didn't look comfortable dropping into coverage. But if you have a vision for his role and development at the next level, the tools are almost second to none. 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. Hes overly reliant on his first step, length, and power to overcome opponents, which can limit his ceiling to the next level. However, few, if any, prospects have the same athleticism, bend, and size-relative strength that Smith has. Nolan Smith Linebacker - EDGE Georgia | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report Going further, Smiths length, while not a liability, is average. Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge. He approaches every play with a you cant block me mentality and I love it. Smith is lean, a bit undersized, and lacks elite length. He was an elite athlete with a sturdy frame, oozing first-round potential. (57%*), 81 Smith is viewed in high regard by his teammates and coaches as a dynamic leader in the locker room. 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. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | 11 Oregon, One QB sack that forced an intentional grounding penalty in the win over Vanderbilt, Tackle for lost yardage and a QB hurry in win over Samford, Named to preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defender), Second-team pre-season All-America selection by Athlon Sports, Led the Bulldogs in tackles (8) in Capital One Orange Bowl win over Michigan, Three tackles, one for loss, two QB hurries and a pivotal play of Georgias win over Missouri, when he blocked a second-quarter Tiger punt that resulted in a safety, Four total stops in win over Floridaadded three career firsts vs. the Gators: forced fumble, fumble recovery and interception, all in a 39-second span of the second quarter, Twice named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week: vs. USC and Florida. News never stops. ALL YOU NEED IS A FREE TDN ACCOUNT TO START A MOCK. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). Smith will always try to plow into the largest piles and has a good knack of ending up glued to the ballcarrier. 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. 35) round out the quintet. He did get more accurate with his hands from year-to-year, showing growth in that area. But looking more closely at the film, do the cosmetic factors translate on tape? A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. Void in ONT. New Orleans Saints 2023 NFL draft scouting report: EDGE Nolan Smith. He employs effortless leverage acquisition in run defense and can combine pad level and agility with violent hand usage to deconstruct blocks. Nolan Smith NFL Draft Player Profile: Scouting Report, Stats for Georgia ED 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating. Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge. Here is everything you need to know about the ultra-athletic Bulldogs defender. In this story: Georgia Bulldogs. He plays with good awareness, as hes able to read option plays effectively, follow the ball, and adapt accordingly. He'd often cover grass in zone coverage and would struggle to stay in phase versus tight ends in man. 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. Interestingly, run defense is where Smiths traits translate best or at least most consistently. 8 overall pick to the Falcons. The Georgia EDGE has the tools to be dynamic in that phase. Doesn't have a ton of power behind his bull rush and doesn't work to get on an edge to collapse the pocket against offensive tackles. Was Eagles-Bears trade that netted Jalen Carter at 9 a win-win trade? Ryan Wilsons CBS Sports mock draft from last weekend has him going 30th overall to the Eagles. 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. It is a bit concerning that a player with Smiths athletic profile never exploded onto the stat sheet, especially with four years of experience. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Nolan Smith 5-Star recruit per 247 Sports. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Detroit Lions NFL scouting report Georgia Bulldogs Nolan Smith - Sports Becoming more technical with his hands to deconstruct and shed blocks can unlock his full potential at the next level. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. He's violent when shedding and has shown flashes of using his quickness to defeat blocks, too. The silver lining for Smith is this: Hes already an excellent run defender. He shows off a hot motor both as a pass rusher and in pursuit. Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Smith, including his high school and college accolades, scouting report and NFL prospect outlook. 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. Working on the consistency of his use of hands to defeat the offensive lineman's hands will allow him to grow in that department. Hes overly reliant on his first step, length, and power to overcome opponents, which can limit his ceiling to the next level. April 30, 2023 5:06 pm ET. That's closer to how he was used in college, but he wasn't the best in coverage which could be an issue in that scheme at the next level. His full-body strength is on display consistently but his base is where it begins. Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Grades 2023: Eagles Snag Another Georgia Defender in Kelee Ringo, Linebackers Drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, 2023 NFL Draft: Day 2 More Bizarre Than We Could Expect, 2023 NFL Draft: Biggest Round 1 Steals and Snubs Include Dalton Kincaid, Will Levis, and Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss | NFL Draft Scouting Report. Smith joins a growing list of former UGA defensive players in Philly, with Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean being selected last season and Jalen Carter being selected earlier in the night. His hand usage can be cleaner and more coordinated, and he can stand to expand his pass-rushing arsenal. Smith will be taken in the first round on potential alone. 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating. 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. Smith is viewed in high regard by his teammates and coaches as a dynamic leader in the locker room. 26) and safety Christopher Smith (No. Doesn't have a ton of power behind his bull rush and doesn't work to get on an edge to collapse the pocket against offensive tackles. Despite being an impressive elite athlete - his production as a pass rusher has only been decent. 30 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft Thursday . "We have a trade" was a common refrain during the 2023 NFL draft. Already, Smith is a high-level run defender. There is also an inherent injury risk as well with Smith coming off a pec injury. Nolan Smith from IMG Academy High School was rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 5-star grade by 247 Sports. I appreciate the ferocity he plays with because that is not a teachable traityou either have it or you dont. Despite his build, Smith holds up well in traffic and makes a lot of plays by engaging a block, shedding, and pursuing. Player Comparison: Haason Reddick. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off. 9 overall pick, beginning with the 62nd overall selection. Want even more Philadelphia Eagles news? Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available. Nolan Smith Scouting Report Check out Nolan Smith's full 247Sports profile, here. This not only puts a cap on his maximum power generation output but also makes him easy to outreach and can cause attempted counters to fail. He applied pressure on roughly 21.9% of his pass rush attempts in 2020, 10.9% in 2021, and 18.3% in 2022. Smith hopes to get selected. Please check your email for a confirmation. Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder. 2023 NFL Draft: Jordan Davis reunites wtih Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter section: | slug: nolan-smith-nfl-draft-2023-scouting-report-prospect-ranking-recruiting-profile-more-about-georgia-edge | sport: football | route: article_single_special | The Georgia product does have a few traits and moves in his pass-rush arsenal that he can win with on passing downs, though. 20th-ranked prospect of all-time. 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. DO YOUR OWN 2024 MOCK DRAFT BY CLICKING HERE (or clicking Start A Mock Draft from your account page). 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Smith was the No. He is a model team leader and is mentally one of the best locker-room guys you could find. Nolan Smith (LB - Georgia) 6'3 - 235 lbs. 2023 NFL Draft: Nolan Smith scouting report Nolan Smith NFL Draft 2023: Scouting report, prospect ranking 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. Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith is rising up draft projections and could be an edge-rushing option for the Eagles. | Franklin, Scouting report on Eagles 1st round pick Jalen Carter. 19), tight end Darnell Washington (No. See our ethics statement. Nolan Smith NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Philadelphia Eagles https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-nolan-smith-scouting-report/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 30 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Scouting Nolan Smith: What to know about Georgia edge ahead of 2023 NFL Nolan Smith NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Georgia Edge