Is Mazi Smith Lions' Defensive Tackle of Future?

The past several months have been an eye opener for former Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

There has been increased attention for his actions away from the field, which has taken away from discussion about his immense talents on the field.

Back in October, Smith was arrested for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon.

That charge was dismissed as part of his guilty plea to attempted possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.

Following the revelation of his arrest and the details surrounding how the Wolverines athletic department handled the arrest, Smith has been the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism ahead of the pre-draft workout circuit.

"People get a story and they take it and run with it and make it seem like something it’s not," Smith expressed at the Fiesta Bowl. "It just shows how quick the tables can turn on you.”

With the incident now in the rear view mirror, Smith has been inching his way up draft boards, as pundits are reviewing his potential to play well at the next level.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic has the talented lineman ranked 38th on his initial 2023 Draft big board.

'The No. 1 player on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, Mazi Smith has a rare combination of power and athletic traits," Brugler writes. "He probably will never be a lineman who fills up the stat sheet, but he is an immovable object in the run game and has the heavy hands and upper-body strength to toss massive guards."

Mazi Smith head up over left guard Steve Avila. Gets under him, extends, transitions into a long arm, gets some wrist control with his inside hand, then sheds & makes the tackle. Complete control from start to finish

pic.twitter.com/5S7WtzlsJm
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) February 18, 2023

For the Detroit Lions, adding to the interior of the defensive line is paramount heading into the 2023 season.

"There’s a lot of different areas that we can go, especially with the resources that we’ll have available to us," general manager Brad Holmes explained to reporters at the end of the 2022 season. "Obviously, our defense was ranked 32nd, so I mean it’s pretty obvious that we’re going to have to utilize some resources to try and improve that defense."

The Lions are a team in need of added girth and depth along the interior of the defensive line.

Based on film review, Smith played all over the interior of the Wolverines defensive line, including at 0-tech, 1-tech, 2-tech, and 3-tech.

According to NFL Draft Bible, "Smith possesses immense upper body and core strength to torque defenders. His physical traits are among the best in the 2023 draft class. Smith’s athleticism allows him to operate as a two-gap lineman, carry momentum and speed on stunts, flatten his rush angle slightly, and display unique quickness and suddenness at his size.

"The senior’s motor runs hot. He offers upside as a pursuit player because of his closing burst and ability to disengage from blocks and redirect to the football. As a run defender, Smith’s eyes see into the backfield and track the running back. He holds the point of attack against double teams and displays the grip strength to pull linemen off balance."

At the next level, Smith will need to address his lack of an explosive first step.

Teams were able to double team Smith to disrupt his ability to get involved in the play. Also, Smith’s pad level will need to be coached up, as he regularly lost the leverage battle due to fundamental errors that popped up at inopportune times.

Developing an arsenal of pass-rush moves and counters will extend his NFL career beyond his first contract.

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