What can the Carolina Panthers expect from exciting linebacker prospect Brandon Smith, who was taken No. 120 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft?
It didn’t take long for Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer to start wheeling and dealing on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft. The front office figure saw another good opportunity to trade up and acquire a prospect that could have gone much higher in the form of Brandon Smith, a physically-gifted linebacker with starting capabilities over time.
Smith is the latest in a line of Penn State defenders that boast NFL-ready athleticism. Something that the Panthers have acquired before with Yetur Gross-Matos, a second-round selection in 2020 that could be in line for a true breakout campaign next time around.
This covers Carolina’s bases, at the very least. The situation surrounding Damien Wilson remains uncertain following the free-agent signing’s recent arrest, so Smith provides a contingency plan and a potential special teams ace if the team does end up cutting ties with the former Super Bowl winner.
Finding a long-term successor for the legendary Luke Kuechly has been an arduous task for the Panthers since the perennial All-Pro announced his retirement after the 2019 season.
Smith might not be able to immediately come in and fill the void. But there is a lot to like about his potential to one day emerge as a productive starter at the second level.
Brandon Smith brings supreme athletic traits to the Carolina Panthers
Smith’s athleticism is absolutely off the charts. He tested extremely high at the NFL Scouting Combine and had one of the highest Relative Athletic Scores for players at the position for good measure.
His production against the run was an area that really stood out on the Nittany Lions. He is powerful, fast, and spots things well without relying too much on natural instincts, which will need some work upon arriving in Carolina.
There are some flaws in Smith’s game that need coaching up. Tackling efficiency is one of the main complications that could emerge if his technique doesn’t progress and the player might also benefit from working on positional sense, which would put him in better spots to make plays consistently.
It’s a mystery that Smith hasn’t been able to fully put together his exceptional physical attributes as yet. If he can do this in Carolina, then this might end up being an absolute steal when it’s all said and done.
Smith’s arrival will boost an area of the field that does lack quality depth. Wilson and Cory Littleton were acquired in free agency, but selecting a dynamic development project from the college ranks was also something the Panthers were clearly intent on a little further down the pecking order.
The fundamentals are all there with Smith. As is the strength, versatility, and surprising ability to impact proceedings from a coverage standpoint.
Fitterer has a strong reputation for finding diamonds in the rough on Day 3. In Smith, the general manager might have pulled yet another rabbit out of the hat at just the right time.