On Thursday night, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Nolan Smith with the No. 30 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (DawgNation). The Georgia outside linebacker was one of the school’s draft-eligible prospects, and he was picked up by the Eagles as one of their several picks from the SEC (NJ.com).
Smith’s selection was met with excitement from Eagles fans and beat writers, who praised his speed and athleticism as a pass rusher (The Athletic). In fact, several NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears, have shown significant interest in him leading up to the draft (UGA Wire, Bears Wire).
While Smith’s stats from his time at Georgia were impressive (Eagles Wire), it’s his potential as a player that has people excited for his future in the NFL. As one report noted, two NFC teams are showing “a lot of interest” in Smith (UGA Wire).
Overall, Smith’s selection by the Eagles is seen as a smart choice by analysts and fans alike (Sports Illustrated). As the NFL Draft continues over the next few days, it will be interesting to see what other teams pick up talented prospects like Smith.
