LSU DL Prospect Maason Smith Talks Raiders
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Las Vegas Raiders will look to build a strong core through the 2024 NFL Draft.
The NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis, Ind., as draft hopefuls meet with teams, looking to connect with coaches and general managers.
The Raiders are looking for defensive line help in the draft, as Coach Antonio Pierce is looking to build a dominant defensive line. Several talented defensive linemen in this class are looking to make an impact in the NFL.
One of those players is LSU defensive lineman Maason Smith. Smith has met with the Raiders and spoke about how he feels he can fit with the Silver and Black.
“It’s been going good,” he told me. “I think that I value a lot of things that they bring as an organization, and I would love to be a part of it if that’s what it came down to.”
LSU defensive lineman Maason Smith has met with the Las Vegas Raiders and feels like he can mesh with their defensive line.
Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports
Smith feels he would mesh well with the Raiders’ talented defensive line group, feeling like he shares the same mentality as players like Maxx Crosby and Tyree Wilson.
“I feel like the attack mentality, the attack play style,” he said. “That’s what I do, and I feel like it would be a great thing just to complement those players on the defensive line.”
One of Smith’s most attractive traits as a prospect is his versatility. He stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 315 pounds. These measurements are typical of an interior defensive lineman, but Smith believes he can play off the edge if asked.
“I definitely feel like that’s one of my strong suits,” he said. “Playing my freshman year at 5-technique was a good thing for me, and I think it broadened my versatility.”
Smith compared himself to six-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Calais Campbell in how he can use his big stature on the outside.
Smith finished his Tigers career with 47 total tackles, nine and a half tackles for loss, and six and a half sacks. He suffered a torn ACL during the first game of the 2022 season against Florida State, ending his redshirt freshman season.
He is now fully healed from his injury and is hoping to become the disrupting player he once was. If the Raiders select Smith, he could do it along a loaded defensive line.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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