We had a fringe first round grade on Georgia Nickel Defender Tykee Smith, yet just like our comp for him(Brian Branch), he fell. Only difference is he fell into the 2nd Round, then into the 3rd Round, and nearly into Day 3, until Todd Bowles stopped his slide. 

We really liked what 2023 UDFA Christian Izien flashed as a rookie playing the nickel spot. Then earlier this offseason the Bucs signed Tavierre Thomas, who played really good football as the Texans Nickel last season. Now rolls around the Draft and the Bucs take one of the best Nickel’s available.

Despite his hefty fall, we don’t know that of 257 total picks if there were many better than this. Bowles and the defensive staff in Tampa love to blitz the nickel and use their nickel in a variety of ways, which shouldn’t be a hard transition for Smith who played Georgia’s Star Role this past season. Smith should be played and used very similarly to what he showed on tape and to us that should be scary to opposing offenses, he could be a problem for teams as a rookie.