Mel Kiper Jr. breaks down why LSU DT Maason Smith is an 'intriguing' player in NFL Draft

Maason Smith can be a very intriguing player in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.

The former LSU defensive tackle was one of the best when he was healthy throughout his college career. In fact, he was borderline dominant.

Kiper joined ESPN’s First Draft and broke down what he expected from Smith and why he’s rising on his big board.

“Maason Smith is an intriguing guy,” Kiper said. “He was a elite recruit right? He showed in practice he could dominate, they were raving about him coming this season. A couple of years ago, the first game, the ACL injury. This year, the suspension early and then a little banged up in the last three games this past season. He was getting after the quarterback, the explosiveness, everything. We saw the quickness when he was healthy, he was coming to the forefront late in the year. The production, the consistency wasn’t there. 

“Why? Because he was hurt, then banged up and when he was out there playing through it, and trying to get back to full strength and getting back to where he was pre-ACL, right? He didn’t look like the same player. 

In three seasons, his production was limited, but Smith made his reps count. He finished with 47 total tackles, 22 solo tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two pass deflections.

“So when he’s now a couple years removed, coming off that ACL, watch out,” Kiper said. “Defensive tackle position we thought would be really strong this year, that has not materialized. We thought Maason Smith would be one of those guys. I’m ready to move him back up in the top 10 defensive tackles, but I got to look at what he is when he’s healthy and what he was when he was dominant in practice, what he can be. I’m gonna put him in that five or six spot of defensive tackles on my big board.’

As a member of the Class of 2021, Smith was a five-star recruit out of Houma (La.) Terrebonne, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 4 defensive lineman in the class and the No. 11 overall prospect in the class.

The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 25th in Detroit, Michigan.