Maason Smith
DL LSU 6-5 306 RS SO #0
PERFORMANCE GRADE: 4.08 POTENTIAL GRADE: 4.42 POSITIONAL RANK: 5
LENGTH: 35”//HAND SIZE: 8 1/2”//40YD: 5.01 (80%)//10YD: 1.75 (73%)
VJ: 31” (82%)//BJ: 9’0” (73%)//BP: 21 (30%)//SS: 4.69 (57%)//3C: 7.62 (70%)
Projection: Will best fit as a 1-gap penetrator. Will need to learn how to maximize his play strength given his height; if he does, he can be a real difference-maker. Draft Projection: Round 3 ~ NFL Mock Draft Database
Ravens Fit: Tmith’s intriguing natural tools mean he will be a day 2 pick and the Ravens may not want to spend day 2 capital on the interior DL, but paying top dollar at a position in the off-season has not stopped them adding a talented player in the Draft at the same position if the value is right. If Smith drops some, the Ravens will consider him. They have historically loved guys with the size and arm length he has. Add the explosive ability and he’s made for the Ravens DL tendencies. After the Ravens have shown they can accommodate a penetrator like Madubuike, Smith could be someone they consider.
Overall Fit 
4/5
Context
Plays 3 technique but also lines up over Tackle at 5 technique and as the Nose.
Pass Rush
Everything that’s good about his pass rush stems from his upfield burst which is elite. He gets off the ball lightning fast no matter the down or distance and game situation, he reads run pass very well. When you pair this with his lateral quickness, he’s able to roll through the half-man against most competition on the interior Offensive Line. That lateral explosion is also used in his footwork as a pass-rusher and it can get linemen to open up lanes for him that he can then capitalize on with his hands. His length is the other natural ability he has to win as a pass rusher, it gives him a margin for error in his pass rush – when he misses on his club swim, he can land his swim on the back shoulder of the blocker and turn him to get into the pocket. His hands are quick, explosive and powerful and he has plenty of upper body strength. His moves though, are from polished and need to be refined for the next level. He has an accurate cross-chop but he isn’t able to finish with that move. The club swim already mentioned is his go-to move and he can also work a bull-rush. His hands are active and he has a high motor but a bit chaotic. He doesn’t put his moves together in an effective rush plan. He’s not creative with his counters and could make better choices when his initial move is stopped, especially when he’s facing OL with good anchor and can re-fit their hands. He needs to add refine his current moves or add more moves to his pass rush and string them together better across a rep and a game. He also needs to resolve his pad level, he has a natural disadvantage given his size but he rarely plays with leverage and far too often stands up too quickly. He can be dangerous when he loops outside and when he gets a chance, he corners well with some bend and dip for his size. He’s deadly on stunts because of his upfield burst and lateral explosion.
Vs Run
He is off the ball just as quickly as he is as a pass-rusher. It helps him to reset the levels of the Offensive Line when he’s facing double teams and gets him into the A gap against Outside Zone runs when he can target the A gap and gets into the backfield. He also has a ridiculous reach advantage against most interior Offensive Line and he deploys it well, getting his hands on first. He will lock out to gain leverage but he isn’t consistent with this, sometimes the OL can collapse his hands and often his pad level issue will rear it’s head as he loses leverage by standing up himself. He does have remarkable upper body strength and power in his hands and can throw the OL around at the point of attack. He doesn’t see Gap blocks coming as well as Zone. When the puller vacates his gap, he’s better at reacting to the Down block, but even in this situation he struggles to hold up and constrict the running lane. He works to slow down OL releasing to the 2nd level on combo blocks with his hands and has begun to add other technique like corkscrewing the leg but it’s inconsistent. His explosive ability as a penetrator and lateral quickness can make him highly disruptive against the run but it’s inconsistent due to his technique.
SUMMARY
Huge with ridiculous arm length for the interior. Crazy quick off the ball vs both run and pass. In the backfield as a run defender. Needs better technique as a pass-rusher but high ceiling.
PRODUCTION
SO: 3 Sacks, 3 QB Hits, 22 Total Tackles
FR: 4 Sacks, 14 total tackles
INJURY: Torn left ACL, missed all but 1 series (’22)
RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 3
Intelligence 4
Versatility 4
Grit 4
Scheme 3
