• Excelling from the slot: Among qualifying rookies heading into Week 7, no matter place, Smith ranks eighth in PFF total grade (76.1) and second in PFF run-defense grade (83.6).
• Smith is offering flexibility for the Buccaneers’ different defensive backs: With the choice of Smith, Christian Izien was moved to his extra pure place of free security, the place he’s had extra success.
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Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
More than six months in the past, forward of the 2024 NFL Draft, I highlighted eight Day 3 picks to look out for, one of which was Georgia defensive again Tykee Smith.
Smith’s versatility was a giant motive we have been excessive on him, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers favored him a lot that they took him on Day 2 with the ninetieth total choice within the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite being the thirty sixth defensive participant off the board, Smith has arguably outshined everybody and is a possible front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year by means of six weeks.
Among qualifying rookies heading into Week 7, no matter place, Smith ranks eighth in PFF total grade (76.1), having performed not less than 90 extra snaps than everybody ranked forward of him. He additionally locations second in run-defense grade (83.6) on nearly double the snaps of first-place Jarrian Jones, his 63.4 tackling grade ranks twenty third (third amongst rookie cornerbacks), his 71.0 pass-rush grade ranks seventh on 32 such snaps (the one corners ranked forward of him have a mixed 4 pass-rush snaps) and his 71.6 protection grade ranks seventh.
While Smith was very versatile in school, he has nearly completely performed as a slot cornerback in his rookie season, seemingly discovering a house within the Buccaneers’ protection. Smith leads the NFL in slot snaps from the slot at 193, 12 greater than the subsequent closest defender, Alontae Taylor. Among the 49 gamers with not less than 50 slot protection snaps, Smith ranks tenth in PFF protection grade (73.8). He slots in at third in contested targets from the slot (33) and eleventh in open-target charge allowed (51.5%).
Where Smith has actually excelled as a slot cornerback is within the run sport. His 83.1 run-defense grade from the slot ranks ninth amongst these with 30-plus such snaps. His 5 run stops are tied for second, trailing solely Jalen Pitre’s six, he leads the league in tackles for loss or no achieve (three) and he has the bottom common depth of deal with (-1 yard) — one in every of simply two slot defenders whose common deal with is behind the road of scrimmage.
Smith was significantly good within the Buccaneers’ Week 6 offensive shootout with the Saints. He notched a career-high 89.9 PFF grade out of the slot, thanks in no small half to an 88.6 protection grade, additionally a profession finest. The rookie allowed simply two catches for 19 yards whereas recording an interception.
Other gamers in Tampa Bay’s secondary have benefited from Smith’s emergence. Last season, Christian Izien dealt with main slot cornerback duties, and he earned only a 63.0 PFF total grade on greater than 600 slot snaps. With the choice of Smith, Izien was moved to his extra pure place of free security, the place he’s had extra success. While his 54.5 PFF total grade this season shouldn’t be very spectacular, it’s being slowed down by a poor exhibiting in opposition to the Falcons in Week 5, wherein he completed with a 38.5 PFF total grade. Removing that outing bumps Izien’s grade as much as 65.3.
The choice of Smith has been a giant increase to a Buccaneers’ secondary that seemed considerably depleted after buying and selling away long-time starter Carlton Davis to the Detroit Lions. However, with Smith’s contributions as a possible Defensive Rookie of the Year, the workforce hasn’t missed a beat as they give the impression of being to repeat as NFC South champions and return to the Super Bowl after profitable it in 2020.