Tulsa offensive lineman Tyler Smith runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in March.
Note: The NFL Draft begins April 28 and the Green Bay Packers have the 22nd and 28th pick in the first round. Between now and then, I’ll examine 20 players the Packers could select with either of those picks.
Today, we look at Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith.
TYLER SMITH, OT, TULSA
THE SKINNY
Third-year sophomore who declared early for the draft. Smith just turned 21 and is one of the younger players in this draft.
Smith started two games as a true freshman in 2019, then redshirted. Made 21 starts at left tackle over the past two seasons.
Earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2020 and second-team All-AAC honors in 2021. From Fort Worth, Tx., where he played defensive line his first two years of high school.
MEASURABLES
Height: 6-5
Weight: 324
Bench press: —
40-yard dash: 5.02
Vertical jump: 27 ½”
Broad jump: 8’ 9”
Arms: 34”
Hands: 10 3/4”
SCOUTING REPORT
One of the nastiest, most violent players in the draft. Raw player with surprising athleticism, something he showed by running a terrific 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Terms “mauler” and “road grader” fit like a glove. His aggressiveness and tenaciousness will immediately upgrade the toughness of any offensive line he joins.
Explosive player in the run game who can overpower people. Aggressive pass blocker, whose technique needs work.
Biggest challenge is to maintain his level of aggressiveness, but do it in a more controlled manner. That tenacity helped lead to 12 holding penalties in 2021.
Has the skill set to play tackle or guard.
PACKERS’ PREDICAMENT
Green Bay had one of the deepest offensive lines in football last season.
Since the start of the offseason, though, the Packers released starting right tackle Billy Turner, while starting guard Lucas Patrick signed with Chicago in free agency. In addition, key reserve Dennis Kelly remains a free agent and it appears unlikely Green Bay will resign him.
The Packers have a solid starting five if left tackle David Bakhtiari and guard/tackle Elgton Jenkins can return to past form from ACL injuries. Those are big if’s, though, and either way, Green Bay’s depth must be replenished.
Smith would likely be a Day 1 starter at right tackle or one of the two guard positions. He would also be a terrific insurance policy if Bakhtiari isn’t the player he once was.
THEY SAID IT
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah on Smith: “I’m telling you, the train, the Tyler Smith train is getting ready to take off. He’s 6-5, 332 pounds. He’s somebody I think could play guard if he wanted to and be hell on wheels as a guard but play tackle. That’s one I think that’s really, really intriguing.”
ESPN’s Todd McShay on Smith: “Tyler Smith still needs coaching and developing, but that dude is nasty. He is a finisher.”
Smith on his problem with penalties: “I’ve talked about it with teams. Yes, they’ve talked to me about it. They’ve brought it to my attention. They understand although it’s part of my play style, I always make sure I’m affirmative with them and that I’m continually working on that stuff, polishing stuff, so we can kind of bring that down, just kind of make it to where I don’t have to get into those positions where that happens.”
PREVIOUS PLAYERS SPOTLIGHTED
• Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave
• Central Michigan offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann
• Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks
• Purdue outside linebacker George Karlaftis
• Boston College offensive tackle Zion Johnson
• Georgia defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt
• Minnesota outside linebacker Boye Mafe
• Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson
• Northern Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning
• North Dakota State wideout Christian Watson
• Houston defensive end Logan Hall
• USC wide receiver Drake London
• Georgia wide receiver George Pickens
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robreischel/2022/04/24/tulsas-tyler-smith-would-give-the-green-bay-packers-several-options-with-their-offensive-line/