The Dolphins Wire undrafted free agent player profile series is at its halfway mark. Looking at the class of 2023 Miami Dolphins UDFAs, there are a handful who could be diamond-in-the-rough finds for general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel.
The Dolphins and Grier have had well-documented recent success in the undrafted free-agent market, especially in the secondary. 2019 had UTEP’s Nik Needham get the call following the draft, and he was eventually named to the full-time roster after time on the practice squad.
Last season, fellow cornerback Kader Kohou made the 53-man team outright after he was an undrafted signee out of Texas A&M-Commerce. Both Kohou and Needham are part of a 2023 Dolphins defensive backfield that’s loaded with talent from the very top to the very bottom.
Sitting at the top of the group above Kohou and Needham are a pair with All-Pro notches on their resumes in Xavien Howard and newly acquired Jalen Ramsey. Throw in 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, and the Dolphins have a top-tier group of corners.
Rounding out the depth of that room would be Trill Williams, who’s another undrafted player who Miami took off waivers from the New Orleans Saints in 2021 and looks to rebound from a preseason ACL injury suffered last August.
Helping at safety are a pair of quality up-and-coming players in their own right, starting with potential star Jevon Holland. Pairing with Brandon Jones, who’ seemingly 100% after a 2022 ACL injury, he and Holland make Miami strong in the middle of the defensive backfield as well.
Add DeShon Elliott from free agency and yet another undrafted free agent in Verone McKinley III from last season, the Dolphins have a deep safety group to match their cornerbacks.
Enter a pair of 2023 UDFAs fighting for a chance to make their own waves within the Dolphins’ potentially lethal secondary. After recently looking at safety Bennett Williams from Oregon in this series, there’s another UDFA who will be fighting for a spot this summer in training camp – Kentucky Wildcat converted cornerback Keidron Smith.
Smith is well-seasoned, playing four years at Ole Miss, and even seeing snaps at each and every position within their secondary. Entering the transfer portal in 2022, Smith had a fifth year in which he played at Kentucky.
Playing mainly the boundary for Kentucky, and prior with Ole Miss, Smith is slotted as a safety for the Dolphins, and his path to a pro roster could be easier with this route. With great size for the safety role at 6-foot-2, Smith could rely on his physicality more than his pure coverage skills.
He’s a quality tackler and hard hitter, yet he lacks the ideal technique and fluidity to stay with wide receivers through their routes as a cornerback. However, he does have good awareness and ball skills to play in the middle of the secondary. He tracks ball carriers well and plays with a good mix of physical play and awareness, which could make him an “ace” candidate on special teams as well as a developmental safety.
As a Wildcat, Smith had a fine 2022, playing all 13 games and starting 12, tallying 46 tackles, five passes defensed, two interceptions, along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was named to the coaches’ and Pro Football Focus All-SEC Second Team.
Affectionately known as “Keibo,” Smith has five seasons worth of experience defending pro-level talent within the SEC, playing in a total of 60 career collegiate games between Ole Miss and Kentucky. With 47 being starts, he totaled seven career interceptions, 26 passes defended and six forced fumbles.
Smith is also a South Florida native, from West Palm Beach and out of Oxbridge Academy where he excelled in basketball as well as football.
Smith and the rest of the Dolphins have a series of organized team activities to look forward to, the first being next week on May 22 and 23. After a day away, the OTAs continue on the 25 and then the 30 and 31. One last OTA occurs on June 2, prior to a mandatory minicamp from June 6-8.
If there was ever a chip to place on this year’s potential UDFA to make the roster, it would be wise to put it on Smith’s number, which, at the moment, is 36, as per the Dolphins website.
Here is the newest Miami Dolphin Keidron Smith taking an Anthony Richardson pass 65yds to the house for a pick 6🔥 pic.twitter.com/IoFgsORgFY
— King of Phinland🐬👑 (@KingOfPhinland) April 30, 2023
Keidron Smith vs. Grant Dubose
UK Alumni locking down Grant. He was a late addition after playing well in the NFLPA bowl the week prior. This young corner should be watched closely, he is a clear riser, the question is how far #BBN #Seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/cfJDYMnI44
— Mike Vallerie (@FF_DirtyMike) January 31, 2023
Keidron Smith puts up a 36 inch vertical 👀 pic.twitter.com/dFtKLTmQB3
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) March 24, 2023
keidron smith, DB, kentucky
— josh houtz (@houtz) May 1, 2023
Impressive change of direction skills from Kentucky cornerback Keidron Smith. He’s nearly 6’2” going against the shifty Tre Tucker at the #SeniorBowl. pic.twitter.com/YtgBRUqVCp
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) February 3, 2023
