Abram Smith NFL Draft Overview
Position: Running back
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 213 pounds
School: Baylor
Abram Smith 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Patience. If there’s one word to describe Abram Smith’s time at Baylor, it’s patience. He waited his turn to breakthrough and he plays with a patience that benefits teams with solid offensive line play. The redshirt senior made the most of his lone season as the starter. Considering he came into 2021 with just 12 carries — plus a shortened season at linebacker — there’s plenty of treads left.
In 2021, Smith re-wrote the Baylor record books, setting their single-season rushing mark with 1,601 yards and 12 touchdowns off of 257 carries. He amassed 100 yards nine times and showed up in a big way in each of Baylor’s biggest games. Baylor took home the Big 12 title thanks, in part, to Smith’s efforts running the ball. He finished as the Big 12 leader in rushing attempts and yards. Smith’s efforts earned him All-Big 12 second-team honors behind a pair of household names. His 1,601 yards ended up at fourth-most in the nation.
Strengths
- Patience; can press the line to allow blocks to set up
- Size and toughness optimal for pass protection
- Runs with linebacker’s mentality, never shies from contact
- Only one year of wear-and-tear
- Great for inside zone offenses
- Breaks arm tackle with ease
- Low, wide base allows him to keep balance
- Fights for extra yardage
Weaknesses
- Limited in pass game, doesn’t run much of a route tree
- Has not shown ability to adapt when rush lanes break down
- Not very explosive, has only one speed
- Was not asked to be a pass-catcher at Baylor much
- Run style invites contact, more opportunities for fumbles and injury
- Will be 24 years old in September
NFL comparison: Knile Davis
Teams With Need At Position: Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: 5th-6th round
Bottom Line on Abram Smith
The “don’t pay running backs” crowd is going to love Abram Smith. He’s a very solid running back who can take contact at an NFL level. Smith can be a solid rotational piece in an inside zone offense that could develop into an early-down running back. As a redshirt senior, Smith is older than some of the current running back stars in the league but has significantly less wear-and-tear on his body.
Smith currently projects as a day-three prospect. He has plenty of roster versatility, which NFL teams love to have. His experience as a linebacker and on special teams will be plenty to allow a team like the New England Patriots to take a flyer out on him. He’s a tough, high-effort back who is not shy when it comes to initiating contact.
Where a team will have to develop him will be within the passing game. His pass blocking will need work. Additionally, considering he does not have much experience as a pass-catcher, teams will look to improve his ability as a dual-threat back. He’s shown that he has soft hands and can make the catch, but Baylor did not utilize this part of his game much.
Abram Smith will be a player NFL teams have on their board if running back is not one of the most pressing needs. Smith has the upside to develop into a solid, cheap starting back for a team looking to cut costs at the position. It is more likely that he goes to a team that likes to employ a running back by committee approach.
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