Jaylin Smith NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Houston Texans CB

The Houston Texans selected USC CB Jaylin Smith with the No. 97 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Jaylin Smith primarily played as a slot corner during his first three years at USC before becoming more of a boundary corner in 2024. But his size and skill set is best suited on the inside. He has the speed to carry speedy slot receivers, has solid change of direction and short-area quickness, and he's a willing run defender.

Jaylin Smith Highlights

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Smith also has some experience playing free safety and could contribute on the back end of the secondary off the bench as well. Also, his speed, ability to read the quarterback's eyes and impressive hands to get interceptions would translate to the NFL at safety.

Showing some position versatility in training camp should help improve the USC product's chances of making a 53-man roster as a rookie late-round pick, in addition to his experience playing special teams.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 5'10½"

WEIGHT: 187

HAND: 9¼”

ARM: 29⅞”

WINGSPAN: 75”

40-YARD DASH: 4.45

VERTICAL: 32.5"

BROAD: 10'2"

POSITIVES

— Good speed with his backpedal and can turn and run to avoid getting beat deep. Good long speed, too.

— Good eye discipline in zone coverage and anticipates throws well in zone.

— Impressive hands to get interceptions.

— Willing run defender who is physical when taking on blocks from wide receivers and is a good tackler, using good pad level and wrapping up.

— Has experience playing on the boundary, in the slot and at free safety, offering some positional value.

NEGATIVES

— Undersized. Will be viewed as a nickel only by some teams.

— Quick to open the gate in press coverage. Doesn't have fluid hips to recover and lacks size to affect wide receivers with a jam. Susceptible to getting beat at the line of scrimmage.

— Doesn't recognize rub routes well and will run into picks.

— Has rough transitions when playing off-coverage to drive on routes.

— Struggles to locate the ball against go routes and back-shoulder throws. Has subpar ball skills and production with only five passes defended in four seasons.

NOTES

— Born Nov. 5, 2003

— 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2024 (Undisclosed, missed 2 games), 2023 (Undisclosed, missed 1 game), 2022 (Undisclosed, missed 3 games)

— 2023 Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP

— 2024 Third-Team All-American

GRADE: 5.9 (Backup/Draftable — 6th - 7th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 234

POSITION RANK: CB28

PRO COMPARISON: Beanie Bishop

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder