2018 Georgia Football NFL Draft Prospect: LB Roquan Smith

Projected draft grade and potential landing spots:

Smith has the highest draft grade of any UGA player this year. He’s comfortably seen as a first-round pick and many have him rated as a top 15 talent. I certainly agree with those grades. Smith was one of the best players in the country and he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. Athletically, there is still a lot more to come from him.

While I understand that sometimes NFL teams like to project players, I would be hard-pressed to pick any linebacker in the country ahead of Smith. While many scouts love Tremaine Edmunds from Virginia Tech because he’s a freak athlete, I don’t think he should be picked ahead of Smith. Could he be a better player in3 years? Sure, it’s possible, but will he be one?

Everything I read about Edmunds tells me that he’s a freak athlete, but Smith isn’t exactly a slouch. Smith also has much better instincts and that’s important because eventually, physical traits decline, but mental ones stick around. Guy’s don’t play in the league for 10+ years because they’re physical freaks. They do so because they are mentally always ahead of their opponent.

Smith could end up being picked anywhere between pick number 7 and the Tampa Bay Bucs all the way down to number 21 and the Bengals who I think are his absolute floor. No matter what, he’s going to be a first-round pick. Every team wants a player like this.