- #
- 105
- Position
- Defensive tackle
- Height
- 6'3"
- Weight
- 337 pounds
- Current Team
- Michigan
Mazi Smith: Defensive Tackle, Michigan Wolverines: NFL Draft Scouting Profile and Projected Draft Position
Mazi Smith Michigan Stats
| Year | School | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | PD | FR | FF |
| 2020 | Michigan | SO | DL | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Michigan | JR | DL | 14 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 2.5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Michigan | SR | DL | 14 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Mazi Smith Scouting Report
Per NFL Draft Buzz, Smith has the following strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths
- Nice blend of power and quickness
- Plays with leverage and can hold up against double teams
- Provides good secondary interior pass rush
Weaknesses
- Frequently fails to locate the ball leading to problems in run defense
- Lacks the flexibility to play on the edge. Only plays the interior line despite his athleticism
- Does not do enough on the pass rush in one-on-one matchups
It is worth noting that he was no. 1 on Bruce Feldman’s list of “Biggest Freaks”, an article he posts yearly about the best pure athletes in college football. Feldman wrote:
“The 6-foot-3, 337-pound senior has rare power and agility. Smith does 22 reps on the bench press, but that’s with 325 (not 225). He close-grip benched 550 pounds. He vertical-jumps 33 inches. He broad-jumped 9-4 1/2. Smith, who had 37 tackles last season, has clocked a 4.41 shuttle time, which would’ve tied the best by any defensive tackle at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, and it would’ve been better than any defensive tackle weighing 310 pounds or more in the past decade. His 6.95 3-cone time would’ve been by far the fastest among defensive tackles in Indianapolis. The fastest was 7.33. Smith’s 60-yard shuttle time is 11.90.”
Mazi Smith in Mock Drafts
NFL Mock Drafts Data Base has Smith projected as a second-round pick. However, mock drafts have him all over the place. His raw skill makes him hard to place. Because of his athletic profile, some GM could fall in love in the late first round. However, this could also cause him to fall to the third or fourth round because of the bust potential. Below is a list of different mock drafts and where they have Smith being taken in the NFL Draft.
- CBS Sports – Ravens: First Round
- Walter Football – Chargers: First Round
- Bucs Wire – Bucs: Second Round
- Steelers Wire – Steelers: Third Round
- Browns Wire – Browns: Fourth Round
- Saints Wire – Saints: Fourth Round
- NFL Mocks – Packers: Fourth Round
Would Mazi Smith Fit on the Packers?
The Packers will need to slightly retool their interior line. Devonte Wyatt’s development seems to be going well but having more interior linemen to rotate through is never a bad thing. Smith’s size makes him intriguing for any team. Wyatt’s development may also give the Packers confidence to take on more of a project if the raw skills are there. If he can improve at the one-on-one matchups, he could become a force next to Kenny Clark.
Smith also fits the profile of someone the Packers usually draft. GM Brian Gutekunst also loves to take athletic guys regardless of position. If Smith is there in the middle rounds, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gutekunst can’t resist taking Mazi Smith. This season has proven that the Packers can take middle-round picks and develop them into impact starters. Zach Tom and Romeo Doubs were both fourth-round picks and look to be part of the Packers’ future.
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