Ourlads' Profile:
2024 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about CHAU SMITH-WADE:
Washington State | HT: 5096 | WT: 184 | 40 time: 4.54 | Arm: 3014 | Hand: 0918 | Wing: 7238
Junior entry, two year starter. Slender build with average to below average length for the position. Has played outside corner in multiple concepts including hard corner, quarters and deep outside third. Also played press and off man. In man coverage he is competitive but more of a flat-foot mirror and shadow player than a hands on press corner. Played a reactive press or press and bail. In off man he shows a quick pedal into a lateral shuffle or run. Stays in phase throughout the route and does a nice job focusing on the receiver. Can play the hands at the catch point, but also is solid locating the ball. Quick to break on the ball with the play in front of him, shows classic corner fundamentals getting the inside hand in the basket on pass break attempts. Plays with an aggressive mentality when battling for the ball. In zone has excellent vision, his deep outside positioning in quarters and cover three is spot on. He adjusts to balance overlapping routes and locates the deep threat. Looks for work and hustles to the ball on plays away. As a hard corner is solid re-routing with body position. Is willing to come up and support in the run game but not a great finisher. Will often dive at tackles without wrapping, leading to some misses. As a hard corner, doesn’t always balance the intermediate route with the underneath receiver. He has a tendency to jump the short one leaving the intermediate open. Below average size will hurt his draft status, but his energy and fundamental cover skill should find him a spot on a team. Could project to nickel.
2023 Stats: 35 T, 2 TFL, 6 PBU, 1 QBH. OSR:30/30. Draft projection: 4th/5th round