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When Maason Smith declared for the NFL Draft back in January, many (including ourselves) considered the move a year too soon....an ill-advised gamble, believing the often absent Smith needed another full, healthy season on the field with elite production to really maximize his professional pedigree.
But after finishing a mostly full campaign without injury, the athletically superhuman Maason Smith took his talents to the NFL, betting on himself and his on-field potential.
NFL GMs and scouts reacted well at first, and it appeared Smith could rise to the 4th or 3rd round at the least...then there was talk of the former Tiger DT being a top 50 prospect....well, after April 26th, the latter has come to pass.
Selected by Jacksonville with the 48th overall pick in the Draft, Maason Smith ended up as a 2nd rounder, winning big time on where / when many expected him to land. Embracing teammates like Harold Perkins and Major Burns upon hearing the news, Maason looked pumped for his moment and delivered a special comment to the Jaguars media.
For a player who missed 20 games during his 3 season LSU career, still ending up a 2nd round pick speaks to his enormous potential and athletic skillset being too tempting for Jacksonville to pass up.
Remember, this is the same franchise that took a bit of a 1st round gamble back in 2020 when they picked another Tiger D-lineman possessed by superior potential while cursed by significant injury history, K'lavon Chaisson.
Let's hope we see a much different outcome in Jacksonville than we witnessed unfold for Chaisson (a few mixed seasons, now in Carolina), let's hope we see the powerhouse version of Maason Smith in the NFL...the version he and we were robbed of during his 3 years at LSU....because if we do, the Tower of Terrebonne will light up the NFL line of scrimmage for years to come.
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
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