Is Terell Smith a sleeper CB for Baltimore Ravens in 2023 Draft

The Baltimore Ravens need cornerback help from the 2023 NFL draft. If they do not take a cornerback in round one they will have to resort to the middle rounds. Does this make Terell Smith from Minnesota a perfect option for the Ravens?

Baltimore Ravens NFL Draft Profile: Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota

Terell Smith is a fascinating prospect. It is hard to call him a one-year wonder because he got on the field and had eight passes broken up as a true freshman in 2018. However, he struggled in 2019 and lost his starting job.

He was a backup during the whacky 2020 year, and in 2021 he was benched. Terell Smith earned one last shot as a fifth-year senior and was excellent. For reference, he went from 1.57 yards per snap allowed in 2021 to 1 in 2022.

Terell Smith continued momentum from his big year onto the Shrine Bowl, where he was a stand out.

Then, he went to the NFL combine and posted a 40-yard dash that opened some eyes. The combination of height, weight, length, and speed is all there.

So, is he a one-year wonder, or does last season show that he has a lot more talent to be untapped?

How Terell Smith translates to the NFL

It is worth mentioning that Terell Smith spent about 80% of his snaps in zone coverage. Smith has the length and can press at times, but he is at his best when he can play with eyes on the quarterback and can break down on the football.

Smith can turn his hips and run at times, but he struggles further down the field to find the football in the air and is better when things stay in front of him.

Smith is aggressive in run support and knows how to tackle. His floor as a speedy special teams option could be valued. For now, teams drafting him should see that he has the traits to play man, but is up and down in that area. He has good zone instincts but is better at playing off-coverage right now.

NFL Comparison for Terell Smith

The best NFL comparison is Byron Maxwell. Thanks to RAS we can compare the two. They are both tall, long cornerbacks who were a bit raw in college but could excel in the right scheme. Maxwell was primarily a zone cornerback, and Smith would be best in a similar scheme. Maxwell also was better as a number two across from a big name like Richard Sherman. This would be an ideal fit for Smith to find himself when entering the NFL.

Does Terell Smith fit the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 NFL draft

According to most big board, Terell Smith is projected to go round six. However, they are probably still behind because his 2021 was so bad. When you see his traits, his Shrine Bowl, and his NFL combine, you think he will be closer to the round four or five range. If the Ravens miss out on cornerback, they need a physical player like Smith who can at least compete with someone like Jayln Armour-Davis next season.