Big Cat Country
The Jaguars’ second pick of the 2024 NFL Draft is defensive tackle Maason Smith. Here’s everything you need to know.
With the 48th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Maason Smith, defensive tackle, LSU.
Process
The top of the second round saw two WRs, three DTs, and four consecutive CBs taken off the board.
Jacksonville had its choice of Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Mike Sainristil, T.J. Tampa, Cam Hart, Andru Phillips, Khyree Jackson and Renardo Green, among other cornerbacks. Instead, the Jaguars selected a second straight Baton Rouge product in Smith.
I’ve expressed in various mediums that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Trent Baalke draft a defensive lineman in Round 2 because there’s a steep drop-off in talent at the position. I am a bit surprised to see Jacksonville continue to pass on cornerback — especially after the Houston Texans added All-Pro wideout Stefon Diggs this offseason — but what isn’t a shock is the type of lineman the Jaguars nabbed.
As you’ll see from the collected scouting reports below, Smith is an inexperienced prospect, but he boasts measurables worth betting on at this point in the draft. Baalke surely swooned at his 94th-percentile arm length, and the Jaguars will appreciate his alignment versatility as well.
Smith has a few connections from his time at LSU: he was recruited by former Tigers coach Ed Orgeron (Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s protege) and will be re-joining former Tigers defensive coordinator Matt House, who was recently hired to coach inside linebackers in Jacksonville.
It’s worth noting that LSU hired six different DL coaches during Smith’s three years in the Bayou. Now, Nielsen and his staff can bring Smith along slowly and give him the development he needs behind starters Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton/Roy Robertson-Harris.
Background
Consensus rankings via Wide Left Football; recruiting info via 247 Sports
Stats
Measurables
Analysis
Scouting report from Matt Holder of Bleacher Report:
Smith has a good blend of size, strength and short-area quickness to blossom into a good defensive tackle in the NFL. He shows traits of being a well-rounded player, popping up on tape against the run as a pass-rusher. Consistency is just a bit of an issue right now, which could be tied to inexperience.
Teams will be taking a bit of a gamble by drafting the LSU product, but the payout could be high. He’s also pretty scheme-versatile, as he could line up as a 3-technique in even fronts or as a 4i-technique in odd fronts.
Player summary from Dane Brugler of The Athletic:
Overall, Smith is a traits-based prospect with his size, movement skills and pop at contact, but his inexperience is evident on tape with his inconsistent...
