Kaden Smith is one name you’ll see associated with the Saints many times ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft. But something’s missing from his game.
In the lead up to the 2019 NFL Draft, Who Dat Dish will post player profiles of athletes who may be available when the Saints pick at number 62 in the second round. This being the only pick the Saints have in the draft’s first four rounds, getting it right will be critical. There are obvious areas of need on the Saints roster at offensive line, defensive interior, safety, quarterback, cornerback and wide receiver. One tight end you’ll see associated with the Saints over the next three months is Stanford tight end Kaden Smith.
Tight end is a need the Saints have had since 2016 when Coby Fleener took over for Benjamin Watson when Watson took off for Baltimore. We already did an analysis of how important tight end is as an offseason priority for New Orleans.
Kaden Smith declared for the 2019 NFL Draft on January 1 of this year after two years as a starter for the Cardinal. Over that span he put up 70 catches for 1,049 yards and seven touchdowns. Those numbers are decent enough if not exactly the kind to blow you away.
At 6-foot-5, 252-pounds, Smith looks the part. And he does seem to have relatively soft hands. But there are some issues in his game that make picking him this high seem way off the mark.
For one, watching tape on Kaden Smith, it quickly becomes obvious that he’s not a natural athlete. Only slightly more graceful than Peyton Matting, his game is played using his head rather than physical gifts.
[embedded content]
He’s not fast, nor is he elusive, nor a good jumper. He can overcome the lack of ability in those areas with his wits. At least at the collegiate level. But as a pro, Kaden Smith will struggle. He’s only a consideration here because we’re using CBS Sports’ big board and they have him as the 55th best available.
Of course that number may go up or down based on what he does at the NFL Scouting Combine. I would be surprised if he put up even a 4.8 in the 40 and anything over 32-inches in the vertical. Not to say he won’t have his spot in the NFL some day. But it shouldn’t be with the Saints.
Smith’s breakout season came when he scored five touchdowns in his sophomore season. That number decreased in his junior year, 2018, once film on him was more readily available and defenders began to key on him.
The most telling number indicating trouble as a professional is the drop off in touchdowns to only two in 2018. That means that Kaden Smith wasn’t the redzone target the Saints, or many other teams, will be looking for in the second round. Is Smith a fourth round talent? Sure. But there are better and more athletic options available.
Kaden Smith does have good vision. An instinct for tracking the ball and finding seams in coverage. While that took him a long way in Palo Alto, but the NFL game is faster, defenders are smarter and the short little jump Smith is capable of won’t get him into any kind of starting position.
Stanford has a reputation for putting out good tight ends. In fact, it’s often referred to as Tight End U. The Saints had one of those previously, Coby Fleener. I’m not going to knock Kaden Smith any more but to say that he’s got a lot to prove at the combine. Other big boards have other tight ends available around the 62nd pick and we’ll get to those in future articles.
For now, I’m bearish on Kaden Smith. He may certainly end up proving me wrong. But a more athletic tight end will be what the Saints are looking for. If he ends up doing well at the combine, that would mean that he plays slower than what his abilities would allow and that’s even more concerning.
Be the first to comment