NFL Draft evaluator breaks down why he won't sleep on Ainias Smith

Ainias Smith may be getting lost amongst all the bigger name receivers vying for position in the NFL Draft. The former Texas A&M star has at least one top analyst in his corner.

Charles Davis, an analyst with the NFL Network, recently compiled a list of players that he’d “pound the table for” in the draft. They all were college standouts but, for whatever reason, are not considered first-round material.

However, these guys still can play and compete. Smith was one of the 16 players on Davis’ list. He also was the lone receiver. Here’s what Davis wrote of him:

Smith is not the biggest, strongest or fastest receiver, but when he touches the ball, good things happen. After a leg injury limited him to four games in 2022, he returned stronger than ever in 2023, earning first-team All-SEC honors as an all-purpose player/return specialist for the Aggies. He’s the only SEC player ever to reach 2,000-plus receiving yards, 250-plus rushing yards, 250-plus kick-return yards and 250-plus punt-return yards, per NFL Research. I know he’s been dealing with a stress fracture in his left shin this spring, but we’ve seen Smith come back from injury in a big way before. I wouldn’t sleep on him doing it again.

Smith could be attractive choice in later round of NFL Draft

As Davis wrote, Smith will bring a multi-dimensional game to the NFL. He signed as a receiver with Texas A&M back in 2019. Because of injuries at running back, Jimbo Fisher, who was then the A&M coach, used Smith in the backfield. It was similar to the way Deebo Samuel is used on offense with the 49ers.

Of course, Smith always was involved in the return game, be it kick or punt, while at A&M. It all makes him an attractive player for the NFL Draft. However, Smith had an undiagnosed stress fracture when he arrived at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in late February. He was able to do the bench press, leading the receivers with 21 reps, but no speed or agility drills.

Lance Zierlein, a draft analyst for NFL.com, compared Smith to Christian Kirk, his former Aggie star who left College Station a year before Smith arrived. They are built the same and both also excelled at the return game. The Cardinals selected Kirk in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Kirk then signed with the Jaguars in 2022.

Since the combine, Smith had surgery to repair the stress fracture. He should be cleared for action within the next six weeks. Where he goes in the NFL Draft is anyone’s guess. NFL.com predicts he’ll be a special teams player.

Zierlein wrote: “The route running is good but has room to get even better with more polish. However, his true calling might be as a gadget guy. He expands play-calling options with his ability as an occasional ball-carrier and open-field explorer, where the quick game and West Coast routes would allow him to get the ball in his hands and do his thing.”