Yeah I would have been happy with just getting a second ballot Hall of Famer, so to get a first ballot one feels even better!

Another Chiefs 7th round RB that's going to take a grown ass man's job?

I see the comparison :hmmm:

No s***. I don't hate it. After watching teams that are pretty solid at RB already shop in this group and some even doubling up, that's all I could muster up. He was one of the guys I liked

by Keith Sanchez
Jan 13, 2025 • 11:00 pm
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Size:
Height: 5097
Weight: 194
Arm: 30 ½”
Hand: 8 ¾”

Accomplishments:
Four-star prospect
"Brashard Smith is a quick-twitch, explosive running back who, if given a crease in a defense, can create an explosive gain for an offense.”

Strengths:
Quick/elusive in open field
Explosive big-play threat
Vision
Catching out of backfield

Concerns:
Durability due to size
Pass protection
Ability to consistently run with power

Film Analysis:

Brashard Smith transferred to SMU from the University of Miami, where he saw limited action as a ball-carrier and was primarily utilized as a receiving option. Upon transferring to SMU for the 2024 season, Smith seized the opportunity to become a lead back and emerged as one of the nation's most productive running backs in one of the country's top offenses. His performance was instrumental in helping the SMU Mustangs make their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Smith is a dynamic running back who leverages his quickness and explosiveness to create big plays.

As a runner, Smith demonstrates two distinct styles depending on the scheme—gap or zone. In a gap scheme, Smith showcases quick processing and excellent vision once he receives the handoff. He rapidly identifies lanes and creases in the line of scrimmage, using his lateral agility and jump cuts to reach the hole. Once he finds an opening, Smith accelerates through it with remarkable speed, consistently gaining positive yardage. His explosive vertical running allows him to quickly accumulate yards, and at the second and third levels of the defense, Smith's top-end speed enables him to outrun defenders’ angles. In the open field, Smith is a threat to leave everyone behind in a footrace to the end zone.

On zone run plays, Smith adopts a more patient approach, allowing his offensive linemen to establish their blocks before making his move. He often presses an inside gap to manipulate second-level defenders, then bounces the run outside. Here, too, Smith's elite acceleration shines as he beats most defenders to the edge and turns the corner to gain significant yardage. Defenses must respect his speed because once he gains the edge, his burst and acceleration often result in long touchdown runs. Overall, Smith thrives on creating explosive plays, especially when defenses fail to properly fit their gaps against the designed run.

Smith also excels as a receiver in the passing game. He has natural hands and is effective on traditional running back routes out of the backfield. Thanks to his quickness and ability to start and stop on a dime, Smith presents a matchup problem for most linebackers and is challenging to cover in open space. He can be utilized in the screen game, catching bubble screens and leveraging his elusiveness in the open field. Additionally, Smith has the versatility to motion out of the backfield and line up in the slot, running short, quick-hitting routes to get open and use his athleticism to gain additional yardage.

Areas of concern for Smith include his ability to consistently run with power and his durability, both of which are tied to his smaller frame. His size limits his effectiveness as a powerful between-the-tackles runner, which may necessitate sharing backfield duties with a larger, more physical back who can handle short-yardage situations. His smaller frame also raises potential questions about his durability at the next level.

Overall, Smith's athletic traits, combined with his running and pass-catching abilities, make him a versatile offensive weapon. He has the potential to contribute not only as a running back but also as a dynamic playmaker for an NFL team.

Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits

Written By: Keith Sanchez

Exposures: Penn State (2024), Clemson (2024), BYU (2024), Pitt (2024)

Brashard Smith NFL Draft Scouting Report

https://thedraftnetwork.com/2025/01/...port-nfl-draft

Do you guys remember how enamored we all were with Kareem Hunt after he caught that first deep wheel route on the sideline… wait until you see what this kid can do as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He’s a legit WR downfield.

You realize “meh” is CEH’s nickname here right?

LOVE this pick!

Still a "stink" draft though, right?

ditto

If Simmons becomes a 10 year starter at LT, this draft will become Veach' all time masterpiece

Veach identifying this obscure kid as worthy late is looking like a masterstroke... swear to you all I'm seeing Jamaal Delaney

If Simmons works out this was a master class

AW HELL EVEN TEX IS ON BOARD! BETTER GET SMITH'S GOLD JACKET READY!

This guy makes my wiener tingle.

Thanks Bart!!!!

DICK IN A BOX

Win or lose we took all the right chances

Got that shit in my head now, a-hole. Time to put on some Slayer and chase it out.

Factual

Wowsers! Vret Beach killed this draft!!!! Love this pick. Didn’t know about this guy until the draft men here on the planet mentioned him. Checked this guy out and love him!!

Don't claim to know picks like many on this board do but it sure looks like they addressed just about every need mentioned in the preceding months. Didn't have any WTF moments and haven't really seen anyone here on the board saying that either. Plenty of squabbling over this guy vs this other guy but that's expected. I don't remember seeing this much agreement on an overall draft in a long time if ever. WELL DONE (for now) BV

I Like it A’LOT!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chiefs&#39; newest Running back Brashard Smith excelled at SMU at being able to take advantage of space created by Non-Stacked Boxes, he was Top 5 in YPC Vs Light Boxes in 2024...exactly what Kansas City needed. <a href="https://t.co/t2gjeFlQBk">https://t.co/t2gjeFlQBk</a></p>&mdash; DMac Wake (@DMacWake316) <a href="https://twitter.com/DMacWake316/status/1916256689516675394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Another one of the reasons why the CEH pick failed was because he ****ing sucked.

I hate to be the wet blanket on this pick, but I think we need to adjust our expectations juuust a bit.

He’s probably a third ballot HOFer, fourth at worst.

I mean, there isn't much to argue with. I mean, there were players I liked more at spots, but that is more based on measurables.

Jesus, that end zone catch from a RB made me nut in my pants.

That catch was ridiculous.

We need a favorite player pick poll thread, unfortunately as you all know I can’t start threads.

Can somebody start one? Rep will be given.

He wins the "Smeer the Queer" gold medal!

Shows my age:)

Just not sure he has the size for a long term run.

Long term run? This guy wasn't drafted to be a 3 down workhorse. Don't expect that. He's a situational home run hitter

That's exactly what we needed. I don't remember the total number but the Chiefs barely had any 20 yard runs, let alone true home runs. Almost all of our big runs were Mahomes or Worthy.

Longest run for the Chiefs last season was 34 yards.

The clips in this tweet especially are awesome. When he sees an opening...BANG he's gone



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brashard Smith in Kansas City is nasty. The rich get richer. <a href="https://t.co/6Y7wtNmfqL">pic.twitter.com/6Y7wtNmfqL</a></p>&mdash; Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) <a href="https://twitter.com/Blutman27/status/1916251332044050671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



Royals and Smith are both full of potential

I take it you didn't read the Simmons thread?

Really like this pick too!

if he makes the team, keep 4 running backs + Steele or cut Steele?

I'd cut Steele.

He's a fun story but I don't think he provides much to the team that isn't already there.

I doubt Elijah Mitchell makes the team.

Steele won't make the team.

It will be Pacheco, Hunt and Smith.

Kareem gives us everything Steele did and more.

He's automatic in short yardage situations.

agree unless he got a lot better

He's similar to James Cook and could eventually become a featured back. Not necessarily an every-down workhorse, but a guy who gets the bulk of the touches, particularly passing game work.

You're not going to run power between the tackles with Smith, but if you want to run outside zone again, he gives you that ability.

We know Moore can block outside zone (you don't get to play T for Shanahan if you can't), and Suamataia at LG has the athleticism to be effective blocking it (he's also a terrifying presence getting to the second level, which is fun).

In the past, Taylor's best run-block grades were on outside zone, if I recall.

So in that regard, Smith could be a sneaky-good add to the running game (though his selection is first-and-foremost about his skills as a receiver).

Reminds me a little of Jet McKinnon.
I really liked the Jet, and I really like this pick.

3rd video, that reverse around 2:00…mmm mmm good

I'm still over the moon with this pick, Veach totally made "my" draft with his final move... an unbelievable talent in the 7th

Simply cannot find anything not to like about him

Vision
Patience
Long speed
Short area quicks
Elite stop and start
Strings moves together
Some of his best runs were between the tackles
But its his receiving/route running ability that truly makes him special, he has the potential to be Marshall Faulk-like in that regard... a legit extra receiver on the field who just happens to be a RB, a wildest dreams toy for Andy Reid

And even then, I notice he's got a little bit of that Kareem Hunt balance to his game. At the very least, he's not going down just by getting breathed on. He can break out of a flimsy tackle attempt if he needs to.

RB is my favorite position so I'm so excited about his potential. I really hope he works out. We'll be ridiculous on offense with his kind of talent mixed in with our WRs.

I think Mahomes doesn’t like throwing to RBs. Thinks he can make something happen downfield.

If he can take some Kelce pressure relief targets and put them on our guy here there will be some real pressure on a defense. Especially if X and Hollywood are going deep on a defense.

I’m not here to criticize Mahomes but hopefully he can unlock RB passes and make things easier on himself.

I think it's half that and Reid changing up how he uses backs and Pacheco being a bad receiving back. We used to be real creative with how Jamaal, Charcandrick, Jet in 22 and Kareem lined up, what kind of routes they ran, etc.

We also used to spam screen passes like they were going out of style. I think I can count on one hand the number of RB screens we've ran the past couple years. And almost zero Texas routes. Bring some of those plays back with Smith and he could be great. Especially with his WR background

Jet Mckinnon had 61 receptions, 544 yards and 9 TD's in 2022.

Damien Williams had 41 receptions for 306 yards and 4 TD's in 2019.

Kareem Hunt had 26 receptions, 378 yards and 7 TD's. IN 11 GAMES in 2018

Pacheco in 2023 had 56 receptions, 304 yards and 2 TD's.

Samaji Perine had 29 receptions, 339 yards and 1 TD.

Any notion that Pat doesn't like throwing to running backs simply doesn't comply with the numbers. Demarcus Robinson, Byron Pringle, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore or Noah Gray haven't had 50 plus receptions in a season with Pat like Jet and Pacheco have. And this new Smith kid is a legit receiver unlike this other backs Pat has played with so I have no doubt whatsoever that he will throw to him.

As for Brashard. Maybe I'm crazy but when I watch him run and do his stop, start, jump cuts etc I see shades of Tyreek In his game. I just have a feeling this kid could be an absolute revelation for this team in the future if he keeps his head in the playbook and grinds hard to perfect his craft just like Hill did.

It’s all going to depend on the OL.

That’s the biggest glare with our offense right now. No OL, no running game.

Morris- Unkown
Kingsley- Underwhelming
Creed- GOAT
Smith- Solid
Taylor- False start guard, but just an average RT.

My only fear about this dude is he may never be a good enough blocker to be fully trusted by Reid/Mahomes to be the true third down back. McKinnon was such an incredible blocker. Man, I miss that guy.

Even if he can never get to that point, he’ll still be a great and explosive gadget guy. Can’t ask for more from a 7th rounder.

I definitely read it. I just trust the Chiefs medical guys to do their senatorial role of advise and consent and either approve or veto the pick. They think they solved LT with Moore, but with Simmons they might be set for a decade. If he only comes back 80-90% of what he could of been, that's still better than anyone on the current roster except maybe Moore. I guess I just trust the medical guys to know their shit more than most people here. And by WTF moments I was talking about positional needs going into the draft and drafting to fill those, not debate over individual picks.

Yeah… I think he might just be a gadget player…which is fine for a 7th rnd pick.

Excellent point. I'm open to being wrong here, but it feels like Mahomes leaves some easy shit on the table. Now, I'm not one to criticize, Mahomes is the best there's been. I've planted my flag and am willing to die on the hill. But sometimes, especially when you're OL is getting shitkicked the play is to get it to a RB and move on. Part of that is what makes Mahomes Mahomes (the best there's been), but he's good at knowing the situation and sometimes, that's the play.

I'm obviously not in the offensive meetings. I know they want to do a lot of set up this so they can rape with that kind of thing. But from my seat, hit that RB instead of getting killed.

He wasn't THAT obscure.

I think Brugler and Jeremiah both had him as a 5th round talent.

The issue is that those boards grade guys in a vacuum and don't consider the glut of players at the RB position. Lots of teams had already filled a need at RB in day 3 so he slid.

He's still a guy that in an average year is a 5th rounder. It was just a deep RB draft.

Some of those plays were really bad defense. A few of those were some really good blocking destroying some flowing linebackers (that was enjoyable, regardless of who I was watching :D ).

I'm trying to keep the uber homer in me tamped down. I don't think he can do Tyreek things. Tyreek is ridiculous. But the homer is coming, he can do some really nice slippery things that the offense has been missing since Jet was healthy. I'm trying to find ways to keep the homer at bay, but it's coming!

Remember that this kid literally played WR until last year so he’s multi-faceted. I half wonder if Andy gets him some snaps out wide at times on certain plays.

He could be another screen option, running option, WR option or play some of the gadget role. He’s extremely versatile.

I expect Elijah Mitchell to get the Perine 3rd down back role bc he is a decent blocker, but it is nice to have insurance for when he eventually gets hurt.

It’s such a breath of fresh air man. People constantly blamed the coaches when we had old, washed slow players that severely limited the offense. The injection of speed and juice on the offense is gonna help us big time.

Just remember that Jet wasn't exactly a punishing blocker back there.

He succeeded through intelligence and willingness.

Smith CAN get there. Will he? Who knows? But this isn't a situation where we grabbed a 5'9", 170 lb guy to go stand in front of LBs.

Smith is gonna play at 200 lbs. He's not someone who physically won't be able to stand in there and throw a block if he's in the right place at the right time. The tools are there.

So now it's a question of drive and experience.

It may not come early, but there's no reason to think it can't come at all. He can be a legitimate James White sort of 3rd down weapon with a little time. He has the tools and the frame to do it.

I think your percentages are off. The margin of skill is so slim in the NFL, that 80 percent of a guy who was viewed as a top 15-20 pick is not even a practice squad guy.

The percentage differences in skill or speed from NFL stars and NFL never-gonna-make-its is SMALL.

Let's use speed as an easy example. If you're a WR or RB or CB or S who runs 4.4, you're fast enough to be in the NFL. But if your speed is 80 percent of what it was, you're now a 5.28 guy and probably not a football player past high school. If your speed is 90 percent of what it was, you're now a 4.84 guy and definitely not jumping from college to the NFL (and probably were a walk-on or fringer roster guy at the college level).

Guys that lose 5 percent of their physical abilities are guys that start to slide out of the league.

Simmons needs to come back at 95 percent of what he was, or better, to really even have a chance to stick in the NFL.

I feel like you're pissing into the wind on this one...

Well, no more excuses, anyway. We're fast as ****.

I think the biggest plus is the fit.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ljaP2etvDc4?si=epY3fSH-_k-ANxUd" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I think it's the world class speed...

I don't even have to click it; one of my favorite Norm bits, of many.

He has a bunch to work on to be able to pass block. He's not a guy I suspect will be in much on 1st and 10. And that pleases me because I don't ever want to run on 1st and 10 anyway.

For starters I'm thinking he is taking every single one of Hardman's plays just right off the top.

Can't wait to see this guy run reverses.

The Kool-Aid Man says OH YEAH!

But if you don’t WANT to run on 1st and 10 … wouldn’t the back who is primarily a receiving threat be THE perfect back for 1st and 10?

It’s a conundrum…

Agreed. I love the guy on 1st and 10.

Because there's a credible threat of the run (which will mitigate his shortcomings as a pass blocker) but the Chiefs will still prefer to pass (which can get him out in space).

Run the ball even 1/4 of the time that he's in there on 1st down strictly as a tendency breaker and if he gets the corner even 10% of the time, you're cooking with gas.

I see Mitchell as a 3rd down back (for now) where Brashard Smith can actually be a really nice fit on early downs in 'open' down/distance situations.

Yeah was thinking about that. They used Worthy there last year and Mecole before him but those guys are not credible threats to actually take a handoff.

Brashard will be lethal in the RPO and screen game like Worthy was. Plays like this come to mind.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hollywood Brown&#39;s return is opening up Xavier Worthy for more gadge plays<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> are quick to the line in 12p, switching Pacheco &amp; Worthy&#39;s spots. That makes PIT hurriedly communicate &amp; settle for zone coverage<br><br>Kelce/Gray&#39;s releases hold Minkah enough to give Worthy the angle <a href="https://t.co/KdxDPcy5cN">pic.twitter.com/KdxDPcy5cN</a></p>&mdash; Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ron_Kopp/status/1872437763183882589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If it works for someone else, make it work for you. Chiefs hit Xavier Worthy on this swing screen with late motion for a touchdown in Week 15 against the Browns, so guess what we saw from the Broncos last night? Swing screen with late motion to Marvin Mims for a huge play. <a href="https://t.co/HGe94GnLHZ">pic.twitter.com/HGe94GnLHZ</a></p>&mdash; Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) <a href="https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/1870202283130269910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

If Smith is on the field on first and ten, the defense is likely to think pass and go with a lighter box. Smith destroys lighter boxes -- even plays designed up the gut.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gnnc1t7X...jpg&name=large

I like that he's eager and willing to pass block. The fact that he isn't great at it is inconsequential, he has only been doing it a year. The most important aspect of that is willingness and the rest can be coached.

I don’t understand why this guy slipped? He was our biggest steal in terms of expected mocks ect

Exactly.

Then they start trying to play the run a bit.

Or they start trying to blitz to take advantage of his weakness in pass pro. But he should be a monster in the screen game so you put a few of those in there to slow that down as well.

He's versatile enough to take the sharp edges off his weaknesses and emphasize his strengths.

Because 19 other RBs went in the first 5 rounds.

It was just a really deep draft for RBs and not every team is looking for a guy with the traits he has or are willing to work around the weaknesses.

Probably because he's only played RB a year maybe and against inferior competition and maybe teams want a guy who can be a three down back?

I see him more as a weapon in all phases personally

Do you see him as someone who can over take Pacheco or Hunt as the primary back? That's what I was hoping for in the draft.

The ACC has now fallen to "inferior competition". LMAO

Those guys were all gone by the time the first 10 picks of round 2 were made.