Las Vegas: Nolan Smith shooting up NFL Draft boards, could he be a Raider?
Peter Schrager went on the Pat McAfee show and revealed that Nolan Smith is rising up NFL Draft boards. The Las Vegas Raiders should at least think about drafting him.
Pass rushing is never something a team can have too much of when the NFL season comes around.
With the Las Vegas Raiders possessing the No. 7, the organization finds itself outside of the top slots to select a quarterback. And after recently signing Jimmy Garoppolo, unless the Raiders love one specific quarterback, it doesn't make sense to trade future assets to shore up a position that already has a viable starter. Insert an often-overlooked player in this year's NFL Draft, Nolan Smith, who, when you think about it, makes sense in Las Vegas.
Recently on the Pat McAfee Show, Peter Schrager revealed that Smith, who hasn't gotten enough love for his ability, may go as high as eight in April's draft.
"I think Nolan Smith, the pass rusher out of Georgia is not getting any love right now," Schrager said. "What I'm told, this guy might go as high as top eight."
Would it be that much of a reach for the Raiders to add pass-rushing help at pick No. 7 by selecting Smith? The short answer is no.
Smith started one of 10 games in 2020 (22 tackles, 2.5 sacks), before breaking out in 2021, starting 14 games for the national champions — 56 tackles, nine for loss with 3.5 sacks, one interception — and leading the team with three forced fumbles.
In 2022, Smith started the first eight games (18 tackles, seven for loss with three sacks) before suffering an injury to a pectoral muscle that ended his season, and subsequently prevented him from raising his draft profile.
Though the Raiders have Chanlder Jones and Maxx Crosby, Smith could be an option that makes the pass-rushing front multi-dimensional.
Jones was ineffective last season. He is getting older anyway. Taking Smith early in the first round could give the Raiders a chance to get younger at a position that has long been a strength of the otherwise iffy Raiders defense.
It is something Las Vegas at least has to think about.
