Nolan

Smith

Smith suffered a triceps injury in Week 3’s win over the Rams and has been sidelined ever since. The third-year pro totaled 10 tackles and one forced fumble in the three games he appeared in this season, and totaled a career-high 6.5 tackles last season. He should immediately slot into his normal role on Monday night against the Packers.

The Eagles activated Smith’s 21-day practice window on Tuesday, and he appears to be on track to retake the field on Monday night. In late September, Smith re-injured the same triceps muscle he tore in Super Bowl LIX. Fortunately, he rehab plan has evidently gone according to plan, as a return “around” the Eagles’ Week 9 bye was the goal.

Smith reportedly re-injured the triceps muscle that he tore during Super Bowl LIX. He underwent surgery to repair the torn tissue this offseason. The Eagles believe Smith will not require surgery and hope to have him back “around” their Week 9 bye. Players placed on injured reserve are eligible to return after missing four games. The Eagles also placed CB Jakorian Bennett and WR Darius Cooper on injured reserve with undisclosed injuries. Both players are likewise expected to avoid surgery and are expected to return around Week 9. The Eagles signed S Marcus Epps, TE Cameron Latu, and CB Parry Nickerson to the active roster, and LB Lance Dixon, DB Eli Ricks, and WR Quez Watkins to the practice squad.

The second-year first-round pick out of Georgia evidently played through the injury in the second half. He went under the knife Wednesday and is expected to be ready for Week 1. More than likely, he will be good to go for training camp. 2024 was a nice leap for Smith after he made zero rookie starts. He played roughly 70 percent of the Eagles’ snaps and tallied 6.5 sacks. That does not include the four QB takedowns he logged during the postseason. Heading into his age-24 campaign, Smith could make another big leap.

Smith is one of several Georgia Bulldogs who will now suit up for the Eagles this season. Smith is an elite defender who played a key role on Georgia’s national championship-winning teams. He brings elite athleticism and a solid production profile to a defense that could use him all over the field, and will likely work his way into an every-down role.

A former number one overall rated recruit from the 2019 prep cycle according to 247Sports, the IMG Academy product has been a fixture on the vaunted Georgia defense since arriving on campus in 2019. An ace closer, Smith (6’22/238) only missed eight tackle attempts in his four years as a Bulldog and is almost impossible to beat to the sideline on outside runs. Despite being undersized by traditional standards, his bend, get off and ability to flatten after blowing away tackles with his blinding speed are rare, even in a loaded edge class. Smith’s 4.39s 40 is the second fastest time ever run by an edge defender while his blistering 1.47s 10-yard split is a 100th percentile score that portrays the limitless athletic traits Smith possesses. He was limited to just 188 snaps in 2022 but produced 19 pressures in that span while meaning a pristine 90.6 rush defense grade in 2021. His outrageous physical gifts and high-end production bode well for Smith’s transition to the next level as an omnipresent standup 3-4 linebacker who never comes off the field.

The top spot belongs to Will Anderson who is one of the best pass rushers we have seen in years. The second spot was a question but Brugler believes it to be Smith (6'3/235). He cites his twitchy athleticism as his best trait, something he uses to get to the quarterback and to stop the run. If he can improve his play strength, that will go a long way in securing a spot at the top of his edge rankings come April.

Smith (6'3/235) was listed as a top-five pick in a recent way-too-early 2023 mock draft by The Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield. That’s not without reason as he looks to be one of the best defensive players in the SEC this upcoming season. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith’s 90.6 run defense grade led conference EDGEs in 2021. It will be interesting to see how he expands upon that in 2022.

Smith (6'3/235) hasn’t received quite the same amount of talk as some other prospects projected to go in the first round, but he’s very much a player to keep an eye on as someone who could rise even further up the draft boards than he’s already projected to. Mark Schofield of The Touchdown Wire recently pinned Smith to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 4 overall: “If you look at the other “way too early” mock drafts out there, many have the Seattle Seahawks addressing quarterback with the first of their two selections in the first round. Will Levis from Kentucky is a popular selection here, and while I understand the reasoning, I have them going in a different direction right now, as the Seahawks tend to do. Nolan Smith might be the next elite defender to come from the stellar Georgia defense, and has already drawn the attention of many scouts and evaluators.”

Smith (6'3"/235) was the former No. 1 recruit in the 2019 class, and while beyond gifted physically hasn’t been able to turn it into the prodigious production that was expected of him. Still, Smith has been good, racking up 53 total tackles this year (eight for loss) along with 4.5 sacks and an interception this year. He started basically every game for the Bulldogs in their championship season, so getting him back is a major boon. After all, it was Smith’s sack that ended the National Championship Game. Smith can also use this time to increase his draft stock, and if he has a stellar 2022 he could get into the first round with his athleticism.