Patriots 2021 NFL Draft: Elerson Smith a possible draft steal

The New England Patriots need an infusion of talent and pass rush at the edge position and they need to bolster the position as a priority in the draft.

Here we go with a series of articles on possible picks for New England beginning in about two weeks. Let’s talk about the edge, aka pass-rushers. We’ll look at Elerson Smith of Northern Iowa.

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The return of Dont’a Hightower, the defense’s best front seven player along with the additions of free agents Matt Judon and Kyle Van Noy (12 sacks combined in 2020) are very positive steps for New England in that area.

With those additions, the New England Patriots are already miles ahead of where they began and ended 2020. Very nice work in free agency there, indeed.

Yet, all are 30 years old or closing in on that age and an infusion of youth to groom there makes perfect sense. Two lower in the draft might work.

So here, we’re going to look at a young player in the draft who might slot in to enhance the blue, silver, red, and white pass rush.

Elerson Smith could be a sleeper for the New England Patriots who makes the grade

There’s a lot to like about Elerson Smith’s game.

Sports Illustrated had this to say about Smith in their scouting report,

"The productive FCS rusher is a gifted athlete for his size, explosive in short areas with a lot of speed working around the track. The hand usage for Smith is surprising, showing active hands to work inside of opposing blockers’ frames…With some continued development he could be the day three developmental pass rusher who firmly exceeds early expectations"

Get this, Smith stands almost 6’6 and weighs 262 pounds. Can’t help but remember a Hall-of-Famer, also from a small college, who fit a similar physical profile the New England Patriots passed on in the draft some years ago.

That would be Jason Taylor who terrorized one Tom Brady for more than a decade for Miami.

Could Smith be that type of player? Unlikely, but one never knows. That’s why the draft is such a great exercise. You never know when a lower-round guy is going to change history. Like a sixth-round pick, perhaps.

With his size profile, Smith has the essentials to be a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker in the pros. He has the dimension that can’t be taught, size, especially height.

Smith had a very productive season for the Panthers, and his Pro-day numbers stand out. Smith jumped 41.5″ vert, 127″ broad at his Pro Day, and benched 225 lbs 26 times with 33 1/4″ arms That vertical may be in the 99th percentile, broad 93rd for EDGE. He also ran a 4.69 40 yard dash

Arm length may be a bit short (the Patriots usually value this), but he has overall great length and huge hands at 10.5″ (the Patriots love that feature) and those assets should override any concerns.

Smith had 21.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks to go along with 63 total tackles in 2019. Solid production. His last season was canceled due to Covid-19.

He also excelled at the Senior Bowl, always some indication of how a small school guy can play with the best of the class.

He was flagged in my notes watching that game. He played as a down left defensive end. Smith fared well and showed nice closing speed and good flexibility. He also demonstrated impressive downfield pursuit speed and an ability to seal the edge.

There was a lot to like in his game. Hopefully, not too much to prompt another team to grab him even earlier than will be suggested here.

All of this screams take a flier on this guy. The question is, where in the draft do you make your move if you’re Bill Belichick and Dave Ziegler?

Smith is projected to go in rounds four to five. Perfect. This is a good place to make move for a prospect with tremendous upside who has the physical skills and the potential to possibly excel.

But, again watching that Senior Bowl game, he looks like a third-round pick all day long. It would be an investment, yes, and a risk. But, no risk no reward. Later in the third, it makes sense. Not earlier.

A trade up to land another low third-round pick might just get you Smith for not much additional draft capital. Whatever. I’d make that move. The potential there is just too great to pass up.

Next. Julian Edelman’s rise from 7th round pick to 7th heaven. dark

We’ll see in a little over two weeks. What I’d do here? Absolutely you roll with Smith later in the 3rd round if you can. Any player who reminds you of Jason Taylor is worth a flyer. Make it happen. It’s worth the investment and the risk.

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