Miami Dolphins select Cam Smith in 2nd round of 2023 NFL Draft
The Miami Dolphins have selected Cam Smith with the No. 51 overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The former South Carolina standout will now take his talents to the NFL and look to earn a role in the defensive backfield.
Smith finished the 2022 college season with 27 tackles, five pass deflections and an interception. On his college career, which included 32 games, the cornerback racked up 91 tackles, six interceptions and 18 pass deflections.
He was well recruited in the class of 2019 after starring at Westwood (SC). The 6-foot-1 defender ranked as a four-star recruit at No. 145 overall and No. 14 among cornerbacks, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Cam Smith
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what Cam Smith can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the cornerback’s draft profile. The analyst compared the South Carolina product to AJ Bouye, who played nine seasons in the NFL and was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 2017.
Zierlein rated Smith as a second or third round pick and provided his reasons for why in his report.
“Long outside cornerback with instinctive eyes and the ball skills to consistently close on throws when in position, Zierlein wrote. “Smith lacks fluidity and acceleration to consistently press and run with speedy downfield targets. Also, he gives ground in his lateral transitions. However, he’s highly anticipatory with the vision and route recognition to shine from coverages allowing him to play with his eyes and feet forward. While his timing/length can be formidable weapons on contested catches, he often fails to move his feet quickly enough in transitions and ends up grabbing receivers, leading to penalties. Smith appears to be better suited for zone coverages and off-man but if he can trust his technique, he might become more scheme-diverse and develop into a CB2.”
Zierlein also broke down what Smith’s greatest strengths and weaknesses are at this point.
Smith’s strengths include: “Plays with anticipation from off coverage, rock solid on-ball production during his career, reads QB and WR concurrently to jump the throw, springing plant-and-trigger steps from his pedal, maintains feel for route direction when in phase, uses length and timing to alter catch success from trail position, attacks ball, not man, with downhill angles on the throw, excellent job of limiting YAC for WR Jalin Hyatt in win over Tennessee.”
Smith’s weaknesses include: “Sticky feet rarely match press releases cleanly, sluggish lateral transitions open door for separation, takes foot off the gas when turning to locate the football, long speed looks to be average, drew 10 penalty flags in 2022, per PFF, defaults to grabbing instead of using proper footwork, run support didn’t appear to be a high priority.”