— Quick feet with above-average explosiveness. Can be snappy at the top of routes.
— Good burst as a ball-carrier. Pedals into high gear quickly.
— Natural vision and pace with the ball in his hands. Doesn’t leave yards on the field.
— Very good concentration and ball skills. Willing to make contested catches around defenders.
— Plenty of experience and production as both a punt and kick returner.
— Size limits him to slot-only work.
— Inconsistency as a route-runner stemming from playing too high at times. Loses sudden change-of-direction ability as a result.
— Poor play strength as a route-runner. Easy to knock off his spot and slow down during the stem.
— Small frame and terribly short arms make it difficult for him to go win the ball in the air consistently.
— 12 G, 53 REC, 795 YDS (15.0 AVG), 2 TD
— 2023 first-team All-SEC (All-Purpose/Return Specialist)
— Missed most of the 2022 season with a fracture in his right leg
— Younger brother of former NFL DB Maurice Smith
Ainias Smith is a slot-only receiver with the elusiveness, toughness and return ability to be a useful NFL player.
As a receiver, Smith primarily wins with burst and quickness. His long speed is admirable, but Smith is often at his best working the short-to-intermediate areas on slants, shallow crossers, whip routes and various zone beaters.
Smith is a tough receiver at the catch point as well. He’s never going to have the length or strength of a true ball-winner, but he displays great concentration amidst chaos. He doesn’t mind taking a hit. Smith’s hands are sticky, and it’s surprising how often he can pluck the ball from unlikely scenarios for a player his size.
Smith also excels once the ball is in his hands. He doesn’t have any elite athletic traits, but he’s a smooth, confident ball-carrier with a little twitch to him and just enough open-field speed to be a nuisance. All of that translates to Smith’s return ability, especially on punts.
At the same time, Smith’s size makes him a slot-only player in the NFL. He doesn’t have the size to beat press, and it shows on film. Smith lets DBs into his frame and doesn’t have the strength to fight through them consistently. Bigger, more physical DBs would dominate Smith on the outside.
Smith checks a lot of boxes. He isn’t elite at anything, but he has the quickness, yards-after-the-catch skills and catch-point toughness to contribute in the NFL. Smith would fit best in a horizontal passing offense that does not task him with blocking.
GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round)
PRO COMPARISON: Braxton Berrios
Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen
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