Raiders traded up with the Jets to select Georgia S Christopher Smith with the No. 170 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Raiders gave up picks in the sixth and seventh rounds to acquire Smith.A five-year Dawg from the strong 2018 recruiting class that helped form the backbone of Georgia’s back-to-back national titles, Smith (5’11/192) had a college career that all players dream of. He started 26 games over the last two seasons culminating his 61 tackle, 5.0 TFL, 8 PBU, and 3 interception campaign in 2022 that earned him Unanimous All-American accolades. 547 of his 812 snaps last season came at free safety, as Smith allowed just 20 receptions for 211 yards and a sensational 50.0 NFL passer rating against in his final run with UGA. His Combine workout was a profound disappointment, as the Georgia captain ran a 4.62s 40 (46th%) with a brutal 9th% 3-Cone and a pair of sub-35th percentile jump marks combined for a 2.92 RAS. A wiry, undersized frame limits his ability to out-leverage opponents and impose his will. But he has an advanced feel for his responsibilities within the scheme and is consistently in position to make plays, as is shown in his SEC collegiate production. While Smith is more than willing to sift through trash in the run game, he’s better in zone coverage where his clean angles and route savvy can help make up for suboptimal athleticism.
