New York Giants Draft Preview: DL Maason Smith

The Giants need some more defensive line depth. How would LSU's Maason Smith fit into a role alongside Dexter Lawrence?

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Apr 24, 2024

In this story:

Maason Smith

New York Giants

NFL Draft

Maason Smith, DL

Height: 6’5”
Weight: 306 lbs
Arm length: 35”
Wingspan: 84 ⅝”
Hands: 8 ½”
Class: Junior
School: LSU
STATS

MEASUREMENTS

40-yard-dash: 5.01
10-yard split: 1.75
Vertical jump: 31”
Broad jump: 9’0”
3-Cone: 7.22*
20-yard-shuttle: 4.64*
Bench press: 21 reps*
*Pro Day

A former consensus five-star recruit out of Terrebonne High School in Houma, Louisiana, where he was the number one recruit from his state and the seventh-ranked defensive lineman in the 2021 recruiting cycle. He was the 31st overall player in his respective cycle.

Smith was dominant in high school; in a pandemic-abbreviated senior season, Smith recorded 45 tackles, 24 for a loss, with nine sacks; he was an All-American that year, was voted homecoming king, and played offensive tackle for Terrebonne High School. It’s no surprise he was highly recruited.

Smith was a freshman all-American in 2021. Eight snaps into the 2022 season against Florida State, he tore his ACL after celebrating a tackle for a loss that one of his teammates recorded. He was then suspended for the 2023 opening game against Florida State for “improper benefit.” He finished his college career with 22 games played and 17 starts.

Strengths

Elite size and length, long limbs
Good athlete for his size with solid quickness
Functional bend in his lower half
Rare combination of size and first step quickness
Gets low when slanting - solid ability to land rip underneath OL
Solid upfield burst and first step - good lateral agility
Barrell chested and long legs
Good raw power and upper body strength
Solid ability to anchor and read vs. 1-on-1 blocks
Has knockback power that is enhanced by overall play strength
Flashed solid swim move to separate
Has flashed pass-rushing moves (needs to be more consistent)
Overcame injuries - lost DL coach
Very high ceiling player who needs development

Weaknesses

4th percentile hand size
Allows himself to get too high too frequently
Struggled to anchor down vs. double teams
Lacks pass rush plan - gets stuck to blocks too frequently
Wish he had a more dominate bull-rush/power rush moves
Limited production in college
Needs time - is still raw vs. run and as a pass rusher
Injuries: tore his ACL in 2022, shoulder injury in 2021

Summary

Maason Smith was highly recruited from high school and flashed bright as a true freshman. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL eight snaps into this sophomore year and has yet to flash as bright since his return. Still, few players have his size and first-step quickness, making him a high-ceiling player. He flashes quality pass-rushing moves on tape, but the flashes are just that - flashes.

Joe Schoen has previously discussed the importance of knockback at the defensive line position. Despite smaller hands, Smith has knockback that is enhanced by his overall play strength. He needs time, patience, and development.

A defensive line coach like Andre Patterson could allow Smith to touch his high ceiling, making him a desirable, yet unpolished target for the Giants somewhere on Day 2.

GRADE: 6.25