Avery Smith is a 5’10”, 185-pound cornerback from Riverwood High School in East Point, Georgia, who played college ball at Toledo from 2022–2025. He was originally recruited as a quarterback, but switched to Cornerback in his freshman season at Toledo. It was a transition that led to success for Smith, as in his final two seasons, he emerged as one of the MAC’s more reliable defensive backs, earning back-to-back Second-Team All-MAC honors while consistently finishing near the top of the conference in pass breakups. Smith also brings ample special teams experience and proven production, along with a dependable, durable body that hasn’t missed any game time due to injury.
Mentally, Smith is one of the more instinctive corners in college, a byproduct of his time as a QB in high school. He feels the game well, processes quickly, triggers and drives decisively on bubbles and RPOs, and communicates at a high level in zone when he sees motion and offensive pre-snap adjustments. He plays with competitive toughness, wants the big moments, and doesn’t allow bad reps to linger. Athletically, he shows solid general speed with good short, quick movements, but lacks elite long speed and recovery acceleration. His hip fluidity is functional but more mechanical than fluid, as he is more of a one-hip flip-and-run defender. When forced into multiple redirections within a rep, his base widens, feet leave his framework, and transitions slow due to heel drops. The greater the required directional change, the less controlled his movement appears. That points more to mechanical inefficiency than to raw athletic and physical limitations, but it’s an area that needs improvement and development for him. Smith is also not the most physically imposing body; he can get overpowered by larger opponents, but tries to punch above his weight class.
In coverage, Smith is slightly better in zone than man, though he is comfortable in both. In zone, he understands depth, sits on vertical routes effectively, and triggers downhill with urgency when his eyes are right. He thrives when he can play within a more structured zone scheme that allows him to play quicker with less risk. He does have a tendency to tip his coverage responsibility in zone looks though, when he’s more upright in his stance with a tighter base, hips pointed toward the middle of the field, and eyes locked on the quarterback and line of scrimmage, it usually indicates a zone assignment. In man coverage, he matches receivers’ feet well on releases, competes at the catch point, leverages inside well, and maintains a good connection to the WR, but can overcommit to double moves and head fakes. When he feels like he is losing phase vertically, he tends to panic and reach rather than stay patient and trust his trail ability. He tips his man responsibilities as well. When his eyes are locked on his man with an occasional quick glance at the QB, it usually indicates man coverage. His ball skills are a strength as he consistently attacks through the hands and creates pass deflections. As a tackler, he is willing and productive but inconsistent in run fits, and he lacks block destruction, as he tends to run around blocks rather than engage and shed. Bigger receivers can control him at times, and pursuit effort away from the play can vary depending on whether the tackle will stop a TD or if the ball carrier is in close range. Overall, he is more of a competitive disruptor than a physically imposing finisher.
Scheme and Team Fit:
Smith projects best in split-safety, match-zone schemes that emphasize leverage, communication, and downhill trigger and drive ability rather than pure, isolated man coverage. He is slightly better in zone than man, particularly when he can sit on vertical stems, stay over the top of routes, and drive on throws in front of him. His processing speed and willingness to trigger make him a nice fit in blitz-heavy defenses where plays develop quickly, and corners are asked to react decisively. Limiting true single high island assignments will maximize his effectiveness as he continues to develop and refine his mechanics.
Seattle Seahawks:
Seattle’s heavy zone usage (80.4%) allows corners to play with vision and leverage rather than constant vertical isolation. Smith’s ability to stay over the top of vertical stems fits well in this structure. Seattle has historically developed defensive backs as part of a whole, resulting in consistent, reliable corner play across the board rather than a single standout stallwort, as Smith is not a stallwort or ace archetype (not a Christian Gonzalez). Seattle also allows a stable development process, as their recent Super Bowl win would indicate; they can afford to take more time developing players than other teams. His special-teams value would give him a roster pathway as he develops into a rotational CB3 or nickel option.
Minnesota Vikings:
Brian Flores’ defense combines heavy zone principles (77.1%) with an aggressive blitz tendency. This environment favors corners who process quickly and trigger decisively, much like Smith. His pre-snap communication would also translate well in a defense that constantly disguises and rotates. The pressure structure reduces the extended coverage time, helping hide his long speed concerns. However, his discipline versus double moves would need refinement quickly in this system.
Las Vegas Raiders:
A zone-heavy defense (78.6%) that is lacking long-term stability at the corner will create an opportunity for Smith. Smith would not be required to start immediately, but could compete for sub-package snaps early while contributing on special teams. His ability to play with inside leverage and disrupt at the catch point will make Smith a good fit in this Raider defensive back room, which values instinct and competitiveness over elite traits.
Los Angeles Chargers:
This may be his cleanest schematic fit. The Chargers operate heavily from split-safety zone looks (81.3%) that structurally protect corners from constant vertical isolation. Smith’s trigger ability, communication, and comfort-squeezing routes in match zone concepts would allow him to develop in a protected environment, such as the Chargers. His long speed limitations would be less exposed here than in a system that uses more single-high safety looks or high-volume man schemes.
NFL Player Comp:
Kenny Moore II (Role-Based Comp)
Moore is not a physically dominant athlete, but he makes his money through intelligence, leverage, discipline, and competitiveness. Like Moore, Smith projects as a high-IQ defensive back who understands spacing and timing. Both are willing tacklers who play bigger than what their frame would suggest, but are not imposing physical specimens at the point of attack. It must be noted that this comp reflects usage and processing style rather than pure athletic profile.
Bryce Callahan (Stylistic Comp)
Callahan built his career on route recognition, being a match-zone specialist, and catch-point disruption rather than elite speed. Callahan is mechanical in technique, not a pretty mover, and slightly undersized, much like Smith is. Callahan and Smith both profile as corners who are more like pass disruptors than turnover hunters. Both players thrive in match zone structures and are effective when playing with vision and controlled chaos.
Mike Hilton (Competitive Profile Comp)
Hilton’s value comes from decisiveness and trigger speed. Smith’s “once he recognizes it, he goes” trait aligns with this mentality. While Hilton is more of a blitzing defender, the comparison highlights Smith’s competitive edge and ability to quickly impact short-area concepts.
Projection: Day 3 Rounds 5–6 (Day 3)
Floor: Round 7 / Priority UDFA
Ceiling: Round 4 if Combine and Pro Day testing exceeds expectations and teams buy into developmental upside and are “wowed” by his mental capabilities.
Smith projects more like a Day 3 developmental defensive back, with early special-teams value and sub-package upside. He is unlikely to enter the league as a plug-and-play outside starter due to size and long speed limitations. However, his processing speed, communication skills, and competitive temperament will create an opportunity to earn rotational snaps as a CB3 or nickel defender.
In his first year, he will primarily be more of a special teams contributor and good depth at DB. In year 2, he should be able to see the field more if he refines his transition and hip mechanics, shows improvement in his eye discipline vs. double moves, improves his run defense, and gains a few pounds. His overall ceiling, however, will primarily depend on his ability to fix up his base width during multi-phase transitions and to maintain hand discipline when under stress or after quick-release losses.
He is a decent player who puts both high-level and developmental reps on tape. The traits are there for steady contributions, but technical refinement will determine how quickly those contributions come.
Grade: 4.5 final
Smith holds a 4.4 original grade before the curve and a 4.29 tape grade
This projects him as an average backup with developmental upside to become a potential starter in the future, but he will be a good special teamer. He’s definitely draftable and capable, but more developmental and can thrive within the right structure and situation.
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