A high-level football IQ but lacking the requisite NFL Combine measurables, Chris Smith II had to wait longer for his name to be called draft day. The Georgia safety’s instincts proved too good to pass up and the Las Vegas Raiders made him a fifth round pick, 170th overall, in the 2023 NFL Draft.
But not even the football instincts could get Smith on the field much his rookie season. Considering the two starters — veteran Marcus Epps and ascending Tre’Von Moehrig — rarely came off the field and were No. 4 (1,031) and No.