Avery Smith 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Los Angeles Chargers CB

The Los Angeles Chargers are reportedly signing Toledo CB Avery Smith as an undrafted rookie free agent, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Avery Smith is an instinctual risktaker at the cornerback position who drives downhill with quickness and sifts traffic laterally to read and react to routes. The aggressive mindset plays a huge role in Toledo's defense and will be an asset at the next level.

The former 3-star recruit was a part-time player over his first two seasons, but since 2024, he's put up 100 tackles (71 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, and 25 passes defensed. Once he got the hang of the defense and earned more playing time, the production came quickly for Smith.

He'll likely be a nickel in the NFL and will have to earn his way on special teams early on to crack a roster.

Dan has covered the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL Draft since 2019 while contributing for RGR Football. Most recently, he spent the 2025 draft cycle at The Draft Network and is entering his first season in our scouting department.

Highlights

Avery Smith Highlights

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Where He Wins

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— Smith reads the quarterback's eyes in zone coverage with speed and identifies route concepts well.

— He has positional flexibility in the secondary and communicates well with teammates.

— Competitive toughness shows up, triggering downhill to deliver hits and at the catch point when driving on receivers.

— Quick off the edge as a run defender or blitzer to cause havoc.

Areas of Improvement

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— Smith out-positions himself with overreactionary movements against quick receivers and quarterbacks' eyes.

— Transitions in catch technique and at the top of routes are hesitant, regularly putting him behind the play in man.

— His skillset projects better to nickel, but his missed tackles and lack of length show up in run defense.

— Struggles to locate the football down the field and lacks the recovery speed to close the gap consistently.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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

COMPARABLE GRADE: CB Jaylin Smith, USC (5.9 in 2025), CB Jarrian Jones, Florida State (5.9 in 2024), CB Kei'Trel Clark, Louisville (5.9 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 237

POSITION RANK: CB28

PRO COMPARISON: Dane Jackson

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 5'10 ½"
Weight: 196
Hand Size: 8 ⅜"
Arm Length: 29 ⅜"
Wingspan: N/A

40-yard dash: 4.54
10-yard split: 1.61
Vertical: 38.5"
Broad: 10'5"
3 cone: 7.03
Shuttle: 4.46
Bench: N/A