With the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft beginning on Thursday, the Tennessee Titans have all but made their final preparations for their upcoming selections.
While the names they add to the team in the early rounds are important, the players the Titans acquire in the later rounds are just as significant.
As Tennessee looks to further bolster positions on the defensive side of the ball, one player they should consider is USC linebacker Cameron Smith.
Smith could provide the depth the Titans are looking for as a developmental prospect, and could also prove efficient on special teams.
At the combine, he posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.69 seconds, a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.23 seconds, a 39-inch vertical jump, 123-inch broad jump and 15 reps on the bench press.
Smith’s most valuable trait is probably his football IQ, which helped the Trojans in third-down situations. He’s a solid tackler with quick reflexes who opposing offenses have a difficult time fooling.
Smith was a force for USC in 2018, racking up 81 tackles with 7.5 for a loss, one sack and four passes defensed.
On his college career, the 6-foot-2, 250-pounder recorded 354 tackles with 26.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, four passes defensed, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a touchdown.
It will be interesting to see if Smith is a part of Tennessee’s plans when the draft officially begins on Thursday evening.
