Maason Smith, IDL, LSU
Size:
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 306 pounds
Arm Length: 35”
Hand Size: 8 1/2"
Accomplishments:
Second Team All-SEC (2022)
“Maason Smith is a physically gifted interior defensive lineman who, with the proper development, can become an impactful player in the NFL.”
Strengths:
Quick initial first step
Lateral agility/athleticism
Alignment versatile
Functional strength to set the edge
Concerns:
Injury
Limited playing experience
Plays with high pad level
Needs to develop pass-rush repertoire
Film Analysis:
Maason Smith enters the 2024 NFL Draft as one of the more polarizing names. His limited snap count due to injuries has seen his draft stock go from the first round to start the college season to a day-two hopeful. The optimism for Smith as a draft prospect surrounds his natural physical tools of being 6-foot-6, 315 pounds with great length, athleticism, range as a player, and functional strength which helped him make impactful plays at LSU.
Against the run, Smith can affect the game as a multiple-alignment player, playing everywhere from outside the OT to a true 0-tech alignment. As a DE, Smith uses his functional strength to set the edge and force the run play back inside to the flow of the defense. Aligning at the interior DL position, Smith gets penetration by attacking gaps, using his quick initial first step. Smith also wins gap control by using his size and momentum to generate power and then locking out offensive linemen after the collision and maintaining his gap.
As a pass rusher, Smith appears to have more success aligned as an edge rusher. From this alignment, Smith likes to attack the edges of offensive tackles and has the option to convert speed to power. Rushing from the edge appears to be most comfortable for Smith because he has the space to operate and can use his athleticism to win.
The concern about Smith's game appears in multiple facets. First, Smith plays with high pad level defending the run which allows offensive linemen to win the leverage battle and displace him off the line of scrimmage. As an interior defensive lineman, he doesn't do great with double teams and will lose the point of attack. As a pass rusher, Smith lacks a detailed rush plan and when aligned as an interior defensive lineman, the rep appears to happen too fast for him to understand what his attack plan should be. Oftentimes, Smith will make a collision with the offensive lineman and then end the rush in a stalemate at the line of scrimmage, failing to get any pressure on the quarterback.
Overall, Smith has a tremendous amount of upside as a player but the lack of production, injury, and ability to be consistently impactful will force NFL decision-makers to weigh the proper place to draft Smith to balance out the questions and the upside potential.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposure: Ole Miss (2023), Missouri (2023), Alabama (2023)
