2021 NFL Draft: UNI EDGE Elerson Smith the next big FCS sleeper?

Where Smith has room for improvement

For as long as Smith is, however, his hands do not pack much of a punch when initially landing a long arm on offensive linemen across from him. When working along the inside track, Smith has the tendency to get washed down the line of scrimmage as his functional play-strength is a bit suspect. As he continues to add muscle and transform his body, Smith  must prove this transitions onto the field as well.

There is room to question the level of fluidity Smith possesses in both his hips and ankles as he appears stiff along the outside track. His inability to bend around the edge and take tight corners hinders Smith’s plan of attack off the edge, leaving him a bit limited in his choices. Smith shows added room for improvement in his ability to stack counters should his initial plan of attack be stifled off the edge.

There is, however, still plenty to work with in terms of becoming a consistent NFL pass rusher from Smith as a prospect. As he begins his pre-draft process, what does the 2021 NFL Draft outlook for the former Northern Iowa pass rusher look like? We wrap up the scouting report on Elerson Smith with this discussion.