One UDFA I would love to sign. His weaknesses are not that hard to fix.
Name: Kion Smith
College: Fayetteville State
Hometown: Lumberton, NC
Class: R-Senior
Height: 6′ 6″
Weight: 315 lbs
Bio
Smith did not get a chance to play his senior year at Fayetteville State because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, NFL scouts saw enough of his play in 2019 to have interest in his talent. He was a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection that year, starting 11 games at left tackle (while also acting as the backup long snapper). Smith did not play in 2018 due to injury. He did start 10 games at left tackle as a true freshman in 2016, however, just one year after playing at Lumberton High School in North Carolina. Smith started five of six games played at left tackle the following season. — by Chad Reuter
Overview
Small school developmental tackle who is lacking in technique and play strength. Smith is a project at this point, but he has a favorable body type, including the length that NFL teams covet at tackle. He has decent quickness as a run blocker and shows good fluidity working his combo blocks up to the linebacker. His hand usage and placement is all over the place and must be corrected before he can ever see the field. He has better upside than most of the potential priority free agents at his position and could end up as a practice squad player early in his career while a team tries to coach him up.
Strengths
*Proportional, athletic frame with excellent arm length.
*Plays with enough quickness to win races to the spot.
*Capable to pull and cut with some effectiveness.
*His ability to sustain blocks will see a big jump if he gets his hands right.
*Good radar to connect with pop on second level.
*Maintains proper base throughout slide phase.
*Length will become bigger factor with additional coaching.
Weaknesses
*Played at a lower level of competition.
*Explosion testing was very disappointing.
*Hands land way up high on opponent’s frame.
*Lacks technique fitting into his run blocks.
*Needs to learn to keep his pads under his feet.
*Lunging opens inside rush counters.
*Needs to live in the weight room early on.
