When the Philadelphia Eagles selected Nolan Smith with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, expectations were high for the Georgia product.
Instead, Smith was buried on the depth chart and didn't produce much at all for the Birds as he finished his rookie year with a disappointing 18 tackles, three QB hits, and a single sack.
This year should look different, according to Smith's teammate Darius Slay, who hopped on Chris Long's "Green Light Podcast" to hype up the second-year linebacker.
“He looks a lot different this year,” Slay said. “One thing I can say about Nolan, ever since I met Nolan, he only knows one speed. He’s one of the guys you have to watch out for. He hits teammates and everybody. He’s been in practice, man. He’s the guy that’s going to run to the ball. ...He’s not a 10-yard guy. He’s more like I’m trying to ‘see ball, get ball’.
“It’s going to be a special year for him this year, man, especially after learning behind Haason Reddick all year. I think he’s going to be very special.”
Nolan Smith Has Been Putting in the Extra Work
Smith has been putting in the extra work this offseason and it hasn't gone unnoticed after he bulked up from 238 to 245.
“I’m coming in a little more bulky,” he said during mandatory minicamp. “… I just want to get there, just personally. Me and Coach Wash talked about it, and he feels comfortable with that. He said, ‘As long as I keep my speed, we good.’”
Smith also claims to have no problems with the lingering shoulder injury he battled with last season.
A healthier, bigger, and faster Smith under a revamped Eagles defense is going to be a problem for opposing defenses, and way too fun to watch.
But just because he looks different this offseason doesn't mean his infectious personality is going anywhere in 2024
“I’m taking the same attitude and approach that I did last year, trying to help the team any way that I can and still be that juice, that energy guy, always picking people up,” he said. "I feel like I’ve got to be an energy guy, 1) because I’m young, and 2) I do got a lot of juice. I got some to give and for people to feed off me, like, you may be coming in with a bad day, but you’re gonna see Nolan smiling up, giddy and excited to be here.”
