Eagles Sign Nolan Smith to $12 Million Rookie Contract
And then there was one. Nolan Smith agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, leaving only cornerback Kelee Ringo as the lone remaining draft pick unsigned.
Smith was one of seven players selected by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft. He arrived in the first round as the 30th overall pick and will work under the terms of a four-year contract worth almost $12 million.
His teammate, Jalen Carter, was also a first-round selection. The defensive tackle signed his rookie contract on May 4.
Smith, Carter, and Ringo all came from the University of Georgia, joining former Bulldog teammates Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, a first- and third-round pick, respectively in the 2022 NFL Draft.
At 6-2, 242, Smith is an undersized but athletic edge rusher, who has been compared to new teammate Haason Reddick.
Already, Smith has taken to assistant coach Jeremiah Washburn. The two became acquainted during Smith’s pre-draft visit with the Eagles.
“They were great,” said Smith of his interaction with the defensive ends/outside linebackers coach. “I came up here on my top 30 visits. It was just me and him sitting down and eating, and there weren’t any dull moments in the conversation. He treated me as a person, and I couldn’t have no more respect for him.”
Smith said Washburn has already shared plenty of advice with him.
“Ton of advice,” he said. “Ton of things I’ve learned from fixing my lines to just simple pass rush things to simple stances. So, yeah, you can say I love Coach Wash. He gave me right as far as like my lines, my aiming points, and just he coaching me like I want to be coached.”
Smith had just 12.5 sacks in his four seasons at Georgia, but an injury last season likely cost him further production.
He should see plenty of snaps this year, probably as a reserve opposite Brandon Graham on the other side of the defensive line.
The first-team edge rushers will likely be Smith’s mentor, Reddick, and Josh Sweat.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.
Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.
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