Maason Smith, IDL LSU: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Smith was a five-star recruit from Terrebonne High School in Houma, La. in the class of 2021

LSU defensive lineman Maason Smith was almost universally predicted to be a future first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft over the summer. His breakout season never materialized, but Smith still declared for the draft. He has plenty of physical tools but remains inexperienced and in the developmental stages of his game.

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Maason Smith, IDL LSU: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle from Houma, La.

Background: Smith was a five-star recruit from Terrebonne High School in Houma, La. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 20 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 2 for Rivals, and No. 11 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 57th (four-star) in the nation with an 86 grade out of 100. Smith finished his high school career with roughly 200 tackles, 60 tackles for loss, and 26 sacks. He amassed 63 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and nine sacks as a senior, and 247Sports credits him with 82 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, ten sacks, and nine passes defensed as a junior. Smith totaled 59 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two passes defensed as a sophomore. He was invited to the All-American Bowl. Smith was born on Oct. 13, 2002.

Injuries & Off-Field: Limited in 2021 spring game with a separated shoulder, missed four games in 2021 with a shoulder injury, tore ACL in left knee in 2022 season opener vs. Florida State, suspended for 2023 season opener

Awards: 2021 Freshman All-SEC Team, 2021 Freshman All-American (FWAA)

Pros: Experience with alignment versatility, massive 84 5/8-inch wingspan and 35-inch arms, long arms help pry linemen out of their stances, tackle radius, maintains a good pad level out of stance despite height, flashes of impressive get-off, long strides to cover ground quickly, quick hands on his swim move, powerful club move, two-armed bull rush, cross-chop, two-handed swipe, stacks and peaks blocks with a long-arm move, engages climbing linemen with a wide base

Cons: Committed seven total penalties in his two healthy seasons, injury history, one season with more than 360 defensive snaps, weight is oddly distributed across his frame, long legs lead to an awkward hop/gallop release off the line, pad level rises significantly and leg drive becomes weak, underdeveloped pass rush plan, gets stuck on blocks, doesn’t counter to revive pass rush once it dies, generally not an anchor breaker as a bull rusher, chops have long windups and are predictable, doesn’t bend and corner at a high level, inconsistent getting hands in passing lanes, average closing burst, limited pursuit range, Brady Cook ran away from him (2023), lacks the mass to handle double teams and is easily displaced, doesn’t slip gaps, overpowered in the run game vs. Alabama (2023), motor stalls

Overview: Smith primarily lined up as a 3-tech and 2-tech for the Tigers, but he also took snaps at 2i and 0-tech. LSU even gave him opportunities as a standup 5-tech. Not all of that alignment versatility will translate to the NFL, but Smith offers value for a creative defensive mind who is willing to rotate and alter his formations. Smith has a massive 84 5/8-inch wingspan, which is in the 96th percentile for all defensive linemen who have been measured at the NFL Combine since 1999. His 35-inch arms fall into the 93rd percentile for all defensive linemen. Smith uses his long arms to pry offensive linemen out of their stances and establish leverage. He maintains a good pad level out of stance, but his pad level rises quickly if he doesn’t win off the snap. The Louisiana native has flashes of impressive get-off and uses long strides to cover ground quickly. His pass rush primarily consists of a swim move, a powerful club move, two-armed bull rushes, a developmental cross-chop, and basic two-handed swipes. Smith’s hands flash their speed on swim moves, but some of his chops have long windups and are predictable. The former five-star recruit stacks and peaks blocks in the run game with a long-arm move. His long arms help him disengage from blocks and use his massive tackle radius to ensnare ball carriers. Smith engages climbing linemen with a wide base but doesn’t have a powerful anchor. The defensive lineman is a young prospect with limited experience. He only played more than 360 defensive snaps in one year in college (2023). Smith already has an injury history, and his weight is oddly distributed across his frame. His long legs lead to an awkward hop/gallop when he releases out of his stance. At his height, Smith struggles to keep his pad level low for extended periods of time. His leg drive quickly stalls as his pads get higher. Smith’s pass rush plan is extremely underdeveloped, leading to him getting stuck on blocks. He doesn’t have counters to revive his rush and lacks the raw power to break an offensive lineman’s anchor with his bull rush. Smith doesn’t bend and corner at a high level when rushing off the edge. He doesn’t showcase an impressive pursuit range on tape. The former Freshman All-American is easily displaced downfield by double teams, opening massive gaps for running backs.

Overall, Smith has the tape of a mid Day 3 pick, but his inexperience and measurables make him a ball of clay for a talented defensive coach to mold in the NFL. He is a traits-based selection that some team will justify taking in the top 100 based on his talent and growth projection nearly two years removed from tearing his ACL.

Role & Scheme Fit: 3-tech or base 4-3 defensive end

Round Projection: Fifth Round

Size: 6'5 1/8", 306 lbs. (NFL Combine)

Submitted: 03-19-24