Safety Chris Smith Could Be Raiders' Hidden Gem

Originally posted on FanNation Raider Maven
By Ezekiel Trezevant IV | Last updated 1/6/24

Eight of the 10 defensive backs on the Las Vegas Raiders' roster have been in the league for three seasons or fewer.

Rookie Chris Smith is one of the youngest players in Las Vegas' defensive backfield and on the defense.

The Raiders selected Smith in the fifth round of the NFL Draft after he finished his college career at the University of Georgia with two national championships as an All-SEC selection and an All-American.

Still, Smith finds himself behind a talented veteran on the depth chart, a similar spot to many young and talented players in the National Football League.

Smith went from an All-American in college to sitting behind one of the better-starting safeties in the NFL, Marcus Epps.

A player who faced a similar situation his rookie year with the Raiders is running back Zamir White, who was Smith's teammate in college. White has started to emerge after spending his rookie season behind the NFL's leading rusher, Josh Jacobs.

White says he hasn't spoken to Smith about their similar rookie seasons, but he is confident in Smith's ability to further develop during the offseason in an effort to be more involved next season.

"We haven't talked about it, but we really need to," White said. "Chris is a soldier. The dude is really good at safety. He's a smart guy, a quiet guy, just all about his business. [I'd tell] Chris, just be patient, and your time will come."

Now that next season is on the horizon, players who might not have played that much have the opportunity to work on their craft this offseason.

Smith is undoubtedly one of those players, as the rookie will have the opportunity to earn more playing time next season, much like White has earned more playing time in his second season with the Raiders.

The Raiders have officially begun looking toward the future. As is the case with any team that is out of playoff contention, late-season games have given Smith and other young players on the Raiders' defense the opportunity to gain valuable experience on the field.

Smith and the Raiders hope he is able to transition from role player next season to major contributor.

The Silver and Black finish the 2023 NFL Regular season this weekend at home by hosting their AFC West rival, the Denver Broncos.

This article first appeared on FanNation Raider Maven and was syndicated with permission.

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