Nolan Smith gaining steam as possible first round draft pick in 2023 NFL Draft

By Connor Riley, DawgNation

February 22, 2023 at 10:20 am EST

Nolan Smith (UGA Sports Comm) Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith (4) after winning the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (Photo by Tony Walsh) (Tony Walsh/Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

By Connor Riley, DawgNation

February 22, 2023 at 10:20 am EST

Georgia being well-represented in the NFL draft shouldn’t come as a surprise at this point. The Bulldogs have won consecutive national championships and will send 12 players to NFL combine.

But one Georgia player has emerged as a candidate to be taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, as Daniel Jeremiah slotted Nolan Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs in a mock draft for NFL.com.

Smith likely won’t work out at the combine as he continues to recover from a torn pectoral injury he suffered in Georgia’s win over Florida. That he’s even in consideration speaks to how much the outside linebacker brings to the table.

“Smith is an outstanding athlete who reminds me a little bit of Haason Reddick when he was coming out of Temple,” Jeremiah wrote.” Smith would get a lot of pass-rush opportunities in Kansas City, thanks to the Patrick Mahomes-led offense.”