The pick is in: Jaguars select LSU DT Maason Smith at 48th overall

The Jaguars’ second pick of the 2024 NFL Draft is defensive tackle Maason Smith. Here’s everything you need to know.

With the 48th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Maason Smith, defensive tackle, LSU.

Process

The top of the second round saw two WRs, three DTs, and four consecutive CBs taken off the board.

Jacksonville had its choice of Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Mike Sainristil, T.J. Tampa, Cam Hart, Andru Phillips, Khyree Jackson and Renardo Green, among other cornerbacks. Instead, the Jaguars selected a second straight Baton Rouge product in Smith.

I’ve expressed in various mediums that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Trent Baalke draft a defensive lineman in Round 2 because there’s a steep drop-off in talent at the position. I am a bit surprised to see Jacksonville continue to pass on cornerback — especially after the Houston Texans added All-Pro wideout Stefon Diggs this offseason — but what isn’t a shock is the type of lineman the Jaguars nabbed.

As you’ll see from the collected scouting reports below, Smith is an inexperienced prospect, but he boasts measurables worth betting on at this point in the draft. Baalke surely swooned at his 94th-percentile arm length, and the Jaguars will appreciate his alignment versatility as well.

Smith has a few connections from his time at LSU: he was recruited by former Tigers coach Ed Orgeron (Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s protege) and will be re-joining former Tigers defensive coordinator Matt House, who was recently hired to coach inside linebackers in Jacksonville.

It’s worth noting that LSU hired six different DL coaches during Smith’s three years in the Bayou. Now, Nielsen and his staff can bring Smith along slowly and give him the development he needs behind starters Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton/Roy Robertson-Harris.

Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Background

• Name: Maason “Tooka” Smith
• Consensus ranking: 86th (DT9)
• Year: Redshirt sophomore
• Age: Turns 22 on October 13
• Hometown: Houma, L.A.
• High school: Terrebonne
• Recruiting: 5 stars
• Instagram: @maason
• Twitter: @therealmaasonn
• Accolades: Freshman All-American; Freshman All-SEC (2021)

Consensus rankings via Wide Left Football; recruiting info via 247 Sports

Stats

Measurables

Analysis

Scouting report from Matt Holder of Bleacher Report:

Smith has a good blend of size, strength and short-area quickness to blossom into a good defensive tackle in the NFL. He shows traits of being a well-rounded player, popping up on tape against the run as a pass-rusher. Consistency is just a bit of an issue right now, which could be tied to inexperience.

Teams will be taking a bit of a gamble by drafting the LSU product, but the payout could be high. He’s also pretty scheme-versatile, as he could line up as a 3-technique in even fronts or as a 4i-technique in odd fronts.

Player summary from Dane Brugler of The Athletic:

Overall, Smith is a traits-based prospect with his size, movement skills and pop at contact, but his inexperience is evident on tape with his inconsistent technique, block recognition and rush plan. NFL teams covet 6-5, 300-pound athletes on the defensive line and those types are in short supply in this draft class, which will only boost Smith’s draft projection.

Prospect overview from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

Traits-based prospect with an exciting ceiling but a concerning lack of experience and consistency. Smith plays tall and lacks the anchor and hand usage to keep from being mashed out of gaps by double-teams. The measurables and playing style have him best suited to play as a 3-4 defensive end, where he will have an opportunity to better utilize his length at the point of attack. Smith flashes as a pass rusher with a healthy blend of footwork and victories to the edge, which should keep improving with additional skill work. He has early round traits but middle-round tape. Smith requires scheme fit and patience if he’s to reach his potential, but he should be no worse than a viable backup.

Bottom line from Trevor Sikkema of PFF:

Smith is a physically gifted prospect, but one who will need to develop. He has to speed up his play, both in recognition and movements, to be more than a rotational player with plus size.

Jaguars fans, let us know your initial thoughts in the comments below!