2023 NFL Draft: Should Nolan Smith Be a Top Option for the Jaguars at No. 24?

After a standout performance at the combine, could Nolan Smith be one of the best options at No. 24 overall?

Author:
John Shipley
Publish date:
Mar 26, 2023 5:55 PM EDT

The 2023 NFL Draft season is upon us.

Among the 32 teams building their rosters to compete for the next Lombardi Trophy is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hold nine picks in this season’s draft -- including the No. 24 overall pick.

As we march closer and closer to April’s draft, we will look at individual draft prospects and how they would potentially fit with the Jaguars. Instead of looking at any negatives, we are going to look at what the players do well and if they could match what the Jaguars need at the specific role or position.

Next up: Georgia edge defender Nolan Smith.

Overview

A Florida native, Smith was one of the top recruits of the past decade. He was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 player in the 2019 recruiting class, a group that included Kayvon Thibodeaux, Derek Stingley, Evan Neal, Nakobe Dean, Garrett Wilson, and many other productive college and NFL stars.

Smith drew offers from major programs such as FSU, Miami, Florida, LSU, Tennessee, Penn State, Alabama, and Clemson, but ultimately committed to the Bulldogs.

Smith played right away as a true freshman, appearing in all 14 games and recording 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks and becoming co-winner of the Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award.

Smith saw more time in an expanded role in 2020, recording 21 tackles, 2.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Smith's best season then came in 2021, with Smith starting 14 games and recording 56 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception, and a pass deflection.

Smith returned as a senior in 2022, starting eight games and recording seven tackles for loss and three sacks before a torn pectoral injury against Florida forced him to miss the final six games of his college career.

What Nolan Smith Does Well

Think back to the days of the mid-2010s, when sub-240 pass-rushers with dynamic first-steps were all the rage. Smith, like Barkevious Mingo and Vic Beasley before him, likely could have been a top-10 pick. The NFL has shifted toward a heavier edge player in recent drafts, but that doesn't change the value a player like Smith can bring to a defense. He has the type of movement skills that make him hard for any blocker to corral in space, effectively serving as an extra linebacker when in pursuit.

Smith does a great job of reducing his surface area when rushing off the edge, showing the ability to get skinny and bend around tackles and cutting a tight angle back to the quarterback. Smith's motor and overall instincts aid him in a big way as a pass-rusher, with his athleticism allowing him to play himself into a fair amount of second-effort sacks.

As a run defender, Smith does a great job of punching above his weight and setting the edge. He shows the ability to lock out offensive tackles and tight ends and shed at the point of attack to make the tackle, while also showing the needed physicality and toughness to take on pullers.

Smith can do more than just rush off the edge and play the run as an edge setter, too. He is a comfortable mover in space when in coverage, frequently showing good fluidity and awareness for route concepts. He is also an impact player on stunts, using his speed and motor to slant inside and create for others.

How Nolan Smith Would Fit With the Jaguars

On the surface, an edge defender like Smith would make sense for a Jaguars team that has two starting edges in Travon Walker and Josh Allen and question marks behind them. A pass-rusher who can line up inside would potentially make even more sense, but the truth is that investing in edge rushers specifically is a smart move in the first-round.

Smith would be an almost perfect pairing with a player like Travon Walker, which would be true even without the context of their wildly successful time at Georgia together. Smith is a do-it-all edge player who could set the edge, rush off the edge and drop back in coverage, allowing Walker to line up or stunt inside more frequently, playing to his strengths. Smith could hold down the fort at edge and allow Walker to be the all-around wrecking ball he truly is.

There is a fair question about Smith's size and how it projects to the Jaguars' scheme. He would effectively be among the smallest edge defenders in the NFL from a size perspective and he doesn't have the length to offset it. With that said, his smarts and overall versatility would suit him well in a defense that asks a lot of out of its athletes.

Verdict

Nolan Smith is one of the most fascinating prospects in the 2023 class for a number of reasons. A former top recruit, the lightning-fast pass-rusher is among the lightest first-round edge prospects ever. Smith can fill a number of roles in a defense and, if deployed correctly, can improve an entire unit from day one. The Jaguars need a playmaker in the simplest and purest form, and Smith can be that type of player.

Smith will have to be an outlier, but he is the type of prospect who can overcome those odds if healthy. If he is there at No. 24, it is hard to see the Jaguars passing on him, even if he doesn't meet their normal length and size standards.

For all of our 2023 NFL Draft profiles, click below.