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2023 NFL Draft: Jaguars Show Pro Day Interest in Michigan DL Mazi Smith

The former Michigan Wolverine is highly regarded as a potential option in the second round.
Brett Hawn|
2023 NFL Draft: Jaguars Show Pro Day Interest in Michigan DL Mazi Smith
2023 NFL Draft: Jaguars Show Pro Day Interest in Michigan DL Mazi Smith

With the 2023 NFL Draft rapidly approaching the Jacksonville Jaguars have expressed interest in a multitude of different prospects, with defensive line prospect Mazi Smith being the latest addition to the growing list.

Dubbed as a Day 2 talent with upside, Smith has attracted his fair share of suitors thus far, with the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jacksonville Jaguars all holding meetings with the 21-year-old according to Pro Football Network's Tony Pauline.

Smith possesses great size and length at 6’3” and 323 pounds with 33 and ¾” arms. Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke has a track history of prioritizing length when looking for defensive line prospects, making Smith the ideal candidate.

“You want to look like an NFL football team. Size matters, at least for us and how we envision things. Getting off the bus is important. And we're looking for length. I think length over time has proven to be very successful in this league," Baalke told NBC's Pro Football Talk Live at the NFL Scouting Combine.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein compared Smith to 2x Pro-Bowler Dontari Poe, but noted that there are areas of his game that need work.

“Dontari Poe might be the physical and athletic player comparison for Smith, but more consistency from Smith is needed before he finds the Pro Bowl, as Poe did twice in his career,” Zierlein wrote in his draft analysis. “Smith’s blend of size and quickness is rare. He can punch and control a base block with relative ease. However, he struggles to match the initial movement of move blockers, which diminishes his effectiveness. He has space-eating potential but needs to become more consistent at taking on double teams and securing his gap. Smith’s size and testing could give his draft slotting some juice but he’s more of a Day 2 talent with exciting upside than a plug-and-play starter.”

In three years with Michigan, Smith posted 88 total tackles (6 for loss) , half a sack, three passes defended and a fumble recovery, displaying excellent short area quickness and power to lift blockers. While Smith’s impact did not necessarily translate to sacks, his physicality and size make him a matchup nightmare for offensive guards at the next level.

The 21-year-old would bring depth on the interior to a young ascending Jaguars unit featuring the likes of run stuffer Foley Fatukasi and nose tackle DaVon Hamilton.

All eyes are on Smith ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

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BRETT HAWN

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