2018 NFL Draft: Roquan Smith, the elite inside linebacker
Roquan Smith, the former Georgia Bulldog inside linebacker, will be a top 10 selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.
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Roquan Smith, formerly of the Georgia Bulldogs, will be the first inside linebacker drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. Smith is a former four-star linebacker prospect per 247 Sports from the class of 2015. Hailing from Macon County High School, he was the 48th overall player in the class of 2015. Smith measured in at 6-foot-1 and 236 pounds at the NFL Combine.
Smith had a breakout junior year logging 137 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2017. Over his three year career, Smith made 252 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks from 2015-2017. He was a captain and leader on the Georgia Bulldogs squad that lost in overtime to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The NFL ranks Smith as a prospect with a “Chance to become a Pro Bowl caliber player.”
Strengths
Roquan Smith can play inside or outside linebacker which gives him versatility in an NFL defense. Smith was clocked at a 4.51 in the 40 yard dash at the 2018 NFL Combine. He didn’t do any other testing at the combine, but his film has shown his athletic ability and we’ll see the rest at his pro day in late March. A leader who plays with focus and explosive hips, Smith can move laterally, shed tackles, and obviously has the straight line speed to make plays in the backfield or down field. Smith can run with athletic running backs and tight ends with his elite speed.
Weaknesses
Smith is a little undersized at 6-foot-1 and can’t play inside in a 3-4 defense where size is key. In the 4-3 he has the speed and lateral movement to overcome his stature. Like most college football players, the learning curve will be key as playing inside linebacker in the NFL brings new responsibilities and requires processing information at a faster and more in depth pace. Smith, however, is an intelligent person and will pick up the NFL schemes quickly. Kirby Smart has coached many NFL linebackers and has said that Smith is the next great one.
Next: Latest first round NFL Mock Draft post Combine
Draft Expectations
Roquan Smith is a sure-fire first round draft pick. Smith is the top rated true linebacker in the draft with only linebacker Tremaine Edmunds out of Virginia Tech possibly being drafted before him. Edmunds is more of an edge rusher while Smith will be playing inside. Jon Gruden and Paul Guenther will run a 4-3 where Smith will fit in at Mike Linebacker.
Prediction: 10th overall to the Oakland Raiders