As Browns Rebuild Defensive Line, LSU's Maason Smith Could Be A Perfect Match

Heading into their third straight year without a first round pick, the Browns hope to hit on prospects in the later round of the draft. LSU's Mason Smith fits the profile of players Cleveland could consider.

Without a first round pick at their disposal for a third straight year the Browns are hoping to strike gold in the later rounds of the NFL Draft.

That's why someone like 6-6, 305-pound defensive tackle Maason Smith out of LSU stands out for Cleveland. Smith fits the billing for what defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz wants out of his interior defensive lineman. He's freakishly athletic and possess an impressive 84.62 inch wingspan, which should allow him to gain leverage over would be blockers at the next level.

He also comes to the NFL with an immense amount upside after returning from a knee injury this past season and putting up modest numbers in his final season at LSU.

Smith's story is a unique one. He entered college as a five star recruit out of his home state of Louisiana and was touted as "the next big thing" on the Tigers' defense. That was evident in his freshman campaign where he compiled four sacks and five tackles for a loss as a rotational D-lineman. One year later he tore his ACL 10 less than 10 plays into the season, while celebrating a big play. An unfortunate situation became a learning experience for the 21-year-old as he preps for the pros.

"I always take into account everything and with the knee injury comes adversity," Smith explained. "I've been through a lot of things and I feel like my character has grown from it. I've become a better person." 

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For some teams the injury history may be a concern. The Browns could view it differently though, particularly after the season they had. Overcoming adversity might as well have been the team's motto in 2023 as it trudged through an epidemic of injuries to end up earning the top wild card spot in the AFC. After facing an injury challenge of his own already, Smith may actually be a perfect fit for a resilient Browns locker room.

"I think I grew up in a sense a lot more," Smith said. "I was 19 years old at the time and just having to go through that tedious process of rehabilitation. I feel like I've grown a lot and I'm 21 now, but I feel like I'm almost a 23-year-old in mine.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers defensive tackle Maason Smith (0) pressures Georgia State Panthers quarterback Darren Grainger (3) in third quarter action at Tiger Stadium / © Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports

Statistically speaking, his third LSU wasn't what scouts would have hoped for – another reason he's projected as a Day 2 guy in next month's NFL Draft. Smith played in all 12 regular season games, snaring 28 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. The undeniable potential he possesses though is another thing the Browns are likely to value as they try to hit on players beyond the first round.

The two sides did meet in Indianapolis this week. Smith was already drawing up what he'd look like in Schwartz' defense.

"He really just was telling me that they're very much a attack defense and I liked that," he said of the meeting. "I actually think my meeting were really good with them. I was able to draw some things on the board and I think they really liked me and what I bring to the game."

LSU DL Maason Smith says he thought his meeting with #Browns "went really good."

Could be an option for Cleveland in the second round. pic.twitter.com/lK6RZbT1w1

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Another intriguing aspect of potentially coming to Cleveland is sharing a defensive line with Myles Garrett. The thought of that had Smith excited as well.

"I've definitely watched him a lot," he said. "He's a very proficient guy. He is going to be a hall of famer one day. I would love to get there and pick his brain and just be able to get under his hip and just be able to learn from him."

Along with his impressive wingspan, Smith measured at 6-5, 306-pounds, but he's a leaner 306. In his workouts on Thursday he posted a forty time of 5.01 and a vertical jump of 31 inches. The combination of athleticism and NFL ready skills may be too good for the Browns to pass up.

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"I feel like everything I have is an asset to me going into the league," Smith said. "Just my length, my motor and my consistency, I feel [that all] will be a big thing for me in the league. I also feel like just my intelligence, the way how I approach the game is different than a lot of guys."

Smith touted his versatility as another key factor in why he's ready for the next level. In his freshman season he played anywhere from a five-technique to a zero-technique, admitting that three or five are more his strong suit. The v-word represents another box checked for Cleveland though, as they look for value in the second-round on.