The lone downside to winning the Super Bowl is that the Chiefs will have to wait a while before they make their first selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. That is obviously a price worth paying, but it goes without saying that finding good prospects is harder later in the draft. Fortunately, in Mike Kashuba’s latest mock draft, the Chiefs come away with Nolan Smith, a speedy edge rusher with a very high ceiling.
Chiefs Select Nolan Smith In Latest Mock Draft
Nolan Smith the Prospect
There is a lot to like about Nolan Smith. For starters, the Georgia product is one of the fastest edge rushers in the class, blessed with incredibly quick footwork and acceleration. His snap recognition is second to none, and he will be able to blow past slower offensive tackles with ease at the next level. Kashuba points out that some scouts believe Smith has the speed of a corner, and based on the film, that wouldn’t be too surprising.
Nolan Smith Sheesh pic.twitter.com/2MKHSr4bsd
— Trey (@Trey2Triggerr) February 16, 2023
Additionally, while he is smaller than your typical edge defender (more on that later) he knows how to play the run. He’s physical at the point of attack, and his speed lets him chase down ball carriers and essentially cover options runs all by himself.
Of course, there is a reason he’s still on the board at the back of the first. Listed at 6′-3″ and 235 pounds, Smith is wildly undersized for the position. According to Pro Football Focus, there wasn’t a single edge defender under 240 pounds in the NFL last year. That lack of size was an issue at Georgia, as stronger defenders could easily take him out of the play when he tried bull rushing. With everyone being bigger and stronger in the NFL, there is a real chance Smith will need a year to add strength before he’s ready to contribute.
How Nolan Smith Fits With the Chiefs
Even though they won the Super Bowl, the Chiefs defense needs a lot of help, so it makes sense to address this side of the ball in the mock draft. The Eagles moved the ball basically at will in Super Bowl 57, and you can’t bank on Patrick Mahomes scoring 38 points every game. Additionally, pass rush is going to be a need, as Frank Clark is one of the top Chiefs cut candidates.
Nobody loves speedy players more than the Kansas City Chiefs, so Nolan Smith should fit in pretty well on this defensive line. While he might not have the size to be a three-down player as a rookie, he should see the field as a situational pass rusher.
Frankly, lacking the size to play the run isn’t the biggest deal-breaker in the modern NFL. Passing the ball has never been more important, and we know that opposing teams will be throwing early and often against the Chiefs defense. Kansas City’s offense is going to score a lot of points, and other teams will need to throw the ball to keep up. This pass-heavy attack means that Smith will be on the field a lot, and his elite speed should translate to the next level. If he lands with the Chiefs, he has a decent spot of being a 5-8 sack player as a rookie.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
