A high-level football IQ but lacking the requisite NFL Combine measurables, Chris Smith II had to wait longer for his name to be called draft day. The Georgia safety’s instincts proved too good to pass up and the Las Vegas Raiders made him a fifth round pick, 170th overall, in the 2023 NFL Draft.
But not even the football instincts could get Smith on the field much his rookie season. Considering the two starters — veteran Marcus Epps and ascending Tre’Von Moehrig — rarely came off the field and were No. 4 (1,031) and No. 1 (1,106) in snap count on the entire defense, it was difficult for many to cut a swath in playing time.
The only other safety to log meaningful snaps was Isaiah Pola-Moa. The third-year safety saw the field on defense for 130 snaps and was also a mainstay on special teams logging 304 snaps (75 percent of the group’s total).
Smith, by comparison, earned only 22 snaps on defense this past season with the majority of his participation coming on special teams — where he notched 191 snaps (44 percent of the unit’s total).
Smith cracking the safety rotation and earning his spot on the 53-man roster is going to be an uphill climb. Although, getting defensive snaps will be the steeper journey.
The 5-foot-11 and 192 pound safety came into the league with the requisite read-and-react skills Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham seeks from his defenders. While his game tape showed a diverse safety who, despite a lighter and smaller frame, was an aggressive and willing run defender and capable cover man, it was his testing numbers at the combine that were less-than-ideal as he ran a 4.62 40-yard dash time while not participating in the 3-cone drill or 20-yard shuttle.
Unless Smith comes out and showcases the productive and smart safety that was at Georgia in the pros, the third-safety role in Las Vegas is Pola-Mao’s to lose. He’s not only bigger than Smith at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he’s faster with a timed 4.51 40-yard dash (at USC Pro Day). The undrafted free agent has made the most of the time he’s earned by racking up 20 total tackles (14 solo) with a sack and an interception this past season.
Smith’s path to a roster spot is likely through his continued development as a safety and being a willing and active special teamer. Smith’s cover skills are hard to ignore and if he can hone in on reading and reacting quicker at the NFL level, that alone gets him a long look as a safety.
However, there’s an intriguing youngster who the Raiders drafted in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft: Air Force’s Trey Taylor. At 6-feet and 213 pounds, the 223red overall pick is a stocky and strong (22 repetitions of the 225-pound bench press at Air Force’s Pro Day) and brings serious collegiate production that culminated in the Jim Thorpe Award (give to the best defensive back in college football). Taylor finished with 74 total tackles, three interceptions, and four passes defensed.
Like Smith, Taylor loves to mix it up in run defense and can cover on the back end. Taylor also sported a better timed run with a 4.53 40-yard dash at his pro day. Both are high-character youngsters with plenty of upside, and Taylor should provide a strong challenge to make the cut on the 53-man roster.
Which means Smith will need to be on point for training camp and preseason games. He’ll need to show that being a second-year player who has an understanding of the Raiders defense and philosophy along with his all-around game and coverage chops, that he’s better option than Taylor.
With Epps and Moehrig locked in as starters once more and Pola-Mao having a firm sleeper hold on the third-safety role, Las Vegas likely keeps only four safeties on the 53-man roster leaving only one more spot.
Smith can easily get lost in the shuffle at safety if he isn’t dialed in and productive the rest of the offseason and preseason. And it could be Taylor who finds his way on the the final roster.
