Raiders bolster secondary, draft S Christopher Smith in 5th round

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Georgia safety Christopher Smith II in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 170th overall.

Las Vegas landed Smith after making a trade with the New York Jets.

The Raiders also addressed their safety position in free agency, signing former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Marcus Epps to a two-year contract.

Smith played five seasons at Georgia, helping the Bulldogs win two national titles. The 22-year-old amassed 132 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and six interceptions during his college career.

Pre-draft profile

Smith is the typical center-field, single-high playmaker that is so coveted at the safety position. He's not without flaws, but he's arguably the closest thing to a finished-product ball hawk in this year's draft class. He nabbed six interceptions over the last two seasons, a testament to his ball skills and instincts. You can't fool Smith more than once; he shows an almost telepathic ability to jump routes, leading to some really big plays. He's got great instincts and adequate range for the role, and as a downhill player, he brings a load of momentum against ball carriers. At times, he can get greedy and stare into the pocket, allowing receivers to get behind him, but Smith is worth an investment as a deep safety.