Reaction: Dolphins Acquire Lockdown Talent With Cam Smith
Cam Smith was the first player to come off the board for the Gamecocks past Friday evening. The Miami Dolphins, who are looking to develop an elite secondary, drafted the former South Carolina Football defensive back with the 51st pick in the NFL draft, and are getting an elite lockdown talent in Smith, who possesses first-round upside.
Many believed Smith was a surefire first-round pick, but the cornerback fell to the mid-second round, a surprise to many. Though he did drop slightly further than anticipated, that is not due to a lack of talent. The defensive back possesses elite ball skills, which make him excellent in man-coverage or one-on-one situations. Perhaps the best one-on-one corner in the draft, Smith provides tenacity in his coverage, which is required in a division with great young receivers such as Garrett Wilson, Stefon Diggs, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and more.
Though he doesn't possess elite athleticism, as many of his counterparts drafted in the first and second rounds, he is one of the most fundamentally-developed players in the draft. He also provides excellent football IQ and anticipation, which helps him mask some of his deficiencies in speed and explosiveness.
Smith is a cornerback's cornerback. He will not overpower a receiver with speed or strength, but he will be in the right position to make a play. Cam plays physical and is not afraid to attack a route-runner, sometimes to a fault. Though he does draw a few more flags than is desired, his physicality and anticipation typically set him up to make a play on the ball.
The Dolphins, who feel comfortable with the offense, and for good reason, have committed to building the defense, particularly the secondary, this offseason. The team already added All-Pro Corner Jalen Ramsey and has just added another long-term piece to the secondary. The trio, along with Xavien Howard, should make up one of the most exciting defensive back rooms in the NFL.
Despite his slight fall in the draft, many experts still think Smith brings CB1 upside. It will be interesting to see if Cam Smith can keep up with some of the more dynamic athletes in the league. Regardless, he has the talent to be a consistent face in the league for years to come.
You Might Also Like:
- South Carolina Portal Target Derrick McClendon Commits To PAC-12 School
- Braden Davis Enters The Transfer Portal
- David Rodriguez Includes South Carolina In Top 5
Join the community:
- Follow Andrew Lyon on Twitter: @ALyon_SC
- Follow Arvon Bacon on Twitter: @baconnetworkllc
- Follow Christian Dart on Twitter: @ChristianJDart
- Follow Fisher Brewer on Twitter: @USCTalk
- Follow Matt Bishop on Twitter: @ThatsABishop
- Follow Locked On Gamecocks on Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts
You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @GamecocksDigest & follow us on Twitter at @GamecocksDigest.