The Athletic’s assessment shows one NFL exec believes Tyler Smith superior to Zion Johnson

[MountaineerCowboy]

Is the exec Stephen Jones?

 

[xwalker]

I think Zion is more ready to play in the NFL but Smith has a higher upside. The Cowboys need a LG who can start right away. Can Smith make the leap so quickly or will he be a liability early on? I don't doubt Dallas had him rated higher than the two guards because he has position flexibility, which to Dallas is football gold.

I was a big fan of Zion but I was a bigger fan of Tyler Smith.

Zion is a prototype OC, IMO. He didn't play OC in college but he did at the Senior bowl.
- He is the NFL version of Rodney Hudson (College version of Hudson was only 299).
- Both have a compact build at 6-2, but have powerful legs and the ability to block on the move.

Green was a safe pick but he might only be a healthy version of Ron Leary.
- Actually he reminds me of D.J. Fluker the Alabama RT drafted at #11 overall in 2013.
- Fluker was tried at RT the NFL and then moved to OG.
- He was a good player for a few years but never made a Pro Bowl.

 

[starfrombirth]

He has got potential out the yang. My worry is those penalties. I have yet to see anyone who had that many penalties in college really reduce them all that much in the pros.

I went back and watch some of those penalty highlights.. and I recommend others do the same... a lot and I mean a LOT weren't penalties. Not to mention, it's been pointed out that he played almost 33% more snaps than any of the other prospects. That's crazy right?!?

 

[Bobhaze]

Who cares what any of these writers think? What matters is what Tyler Smith does on the field with pads on in games that matter.

I guarantee you we are about to hear a thundering sales job on him and a bunch of other young guys staring in TC. Maybe they will turn out great. But the bottom line is, NONE OF US KNOWS ABOUT ANY OF THESE GUYS UNTIL THE REAL FOOTBALL STARTS.

 

[kskboys]

Tyler is easily superior to Zion. It's not really close. Zion may be more NFL ready, but that's about it.

 

[kskboys]

I like the way he speaks and handles himself.

His floor got a lot higher for me after the PC. I don't see how he would be considered not coachable, but that was written.

It was also written that Micah Parsons lacked football instincts.

Now that is some bad scouting, re Parsons. Scouting report I read said he had excellent instincts.

 

[morasp]

They are rated about equal. Smith has much higher upside and the attitude we need on the OL.

 

[terra]

I went back and watch some of those penalty highlights.. and I recommend others do the same... a lot and I mean a LOT weren't penalties. Not to mention, it's been pointed out that he played almost 33% more snaps than any of the other prospects. That's crazy right?!?

YOU say they were not penalties? Which means diddly squat. The refs did and they are not a whole lot different calling holding, etc then they are in the pros.

 

[Creeper]

I was a big fan of Zion but I was a bigger fan of Tyler Smith.

Zion is a prototype OC, IMO. He didn't play OC in college but he did at the Senior bowl.
- He is the NFL version of Rodney Hudson (College version of Hudson was only 299).
- Both have a compact build at 6-2, but have powerful legs and the ability to block on the move.

Green was a safe pick but he might only be a healthy version of Ron Leary.
- Actually he reminds me of D.J. Fluker the Alabama RT drafted at #11 overall in 2013.
- Fluker was tried at RT the NFL and then moved to OG.
- He was a good player for a few years but never made a Pro Bowl.

I was not sold on Green. I watched him at the combine and there was something about him that concerned me. I know it was only one day, but Zion just looked more like an NFL OG. But I would take a healthy Ron Leary at LG. Then again, Leary did not start right away. He was on the practice squad for most of his rookie season.

 

[Haimerej]

Tyler is easily superior to Zion. It's not really close. Zion may be more NFL ready, but that's about it.

"Easily superior" yet not as NFL ready.

Sounds like hope more than anything.

 

[eromeopolk]

It's all based on assumptions. Had Tyler Smith gone to Alabama next year and played as expected (and filled up more of his frame considering he just turned 21), maybe he's a top 10 draft pick in 2023. Or he struggles and is a mid round selection. Only way to tell is to see how it plays out.

Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper were both considered can't miss prospects and neither lived up to their draft spot, and the two guards in this draft had even more question marks, so its tough to guess before anyone plays a game.

Warmack got a Super Bowl ring starting every year he played and Cooper help stabilized the Cowboys OL in 2017 and had a 7 year career starting for 5 seasons for 4 teams. If you get that kind of production from you OL draft pick, its good. Not great but it was a good draft pick.

 

[phildadon86]

So, one exec agrees with Dallas…,,

Jerry probably had him in the party bud before this article was written

 

[starfrombirth]

YOU say they were not penalties? Which means diddly squat. The refs did and they are not a whole lot different calling holding, etc then they are in the pros.

People who know a lot more then I said these were 'Grown Man's where he man handled the guy so bad the ref figured it must be a penalty even if he didn't see it.

 

[conner01]

It's all based on assumptions. Had Tyler Smith gone to Alabama next year and played as expected (and filled up more of his frame considering he just turned 21), maybe he's a top 10 draft pick in 2023. Or he struggles and is a mid round selection. Only way to tell is to see how it plays out.

Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper were both considered can't miss prospects and neither lived up to their draft spot, and the two guards in this draft had even more question marks, so its tough to guess before anyone plays a game.

It’s really an assumption that he’s a better guard than Zion who actually played guard
I like his potential but he hasn’t played guard since HS

 

[beware_d-ware]

Zion looks damn near can't-miss to me.

-Gave up 6 pressures in 12 games as a senior.
-Stuffed everyone at the Senior Bowl.
-97th percentile athlete.
-No injury history I'm aware of.
-Holds a bachelors degree in CS and a masters in cybersecurity.

Like what risk factors does he have? He's definitely old for a rook at 23 and he's too short to ever play tackle, but this guy was ready to block NFL linemen yesterday.

The guy he reminds me of is Rashawn Slater from last year. Slater had something ridiculous like 5 pressures allowed in a full season and then ripped up the Combine. People overthought it, "what if he's just a guard", "why'd he choose to sit out all year", and then Slater just went out and blocked out the sun for the Chargers. Zion's going to be another stud right next to him.

Tyler Smith is probably even stronger than Johnson is, and he offers tackle flex that Zion doesn't, but his game is about a billion times less polished. Honestly, it's pretty easy to see how he could bust in the pros. OTOH, I don't see any way Zion could bust outside of devastating injury. Like "average LG" is Zion's floor. Smith's floor is starting in the USFL.

 

[kskboys]

"Easily superior" yet not as NFL ready.

Sounds like hope more than anything.

Yes and no. Smith has a body that is NFL ready, and his run blocking is NFL ready. All he's really lacking is some technique issues being cleaned up.

 

[plasticman]

Just curious.....how many NFL execs are there?

The fact that they found one of them that likes Smith better is not that encouraging, sorry to say.

 

[kskboys]

Zion looks damn near can't-miss to me.

-Gave up 6 pressures in 12 games as a senior.
-Stuffed everyone at the Senior Bowl.
-97th percentile athlete.
-No injury history I'm aware of.
-Holds a bachelors degree in CS and a masters in cybersecurity.

Like what risk factors does he have? He's definitely old for a rook at 23 and he's too short to ever play tackle, but this guy was ready to block NFL linemen yesterday.

The guy he reminds me of is Rashawn Slater from last year. Slater had something ridiculous like 5 pressures allowed in a full season and then ripped up the Combine. People overthought it, "what if he's just a guard", "why'd he choose to sit out all year", and then Slater just went out and blocked out the sun for the Chargers. Zion's going to be another stud right next to him.

Tyler Smith is probably even stronger than Johnson is, and he offers tackle flex that Zion doesn't, but his game is about a billion times less polished. Honestly, it's pretty easy to see how he could bust in the pros. OTOH, I don't see any way Zion could bust outside of devastating injury. Like "average LG" is Zion's floor. Smith's floor is starting in the USFL.

I find Zion's lack of movement ability quite worrisome.

 

[Haimerej]

Yes and no. Smith has a body that is NFL ready, and his run blocking is NFL ready. All he's really lacking is some technique issues being cleaned up.

I hadn't followed this guy (or any draft stuff lately) but the games I've watched since they got him have me worried. I watched his games against ranked teams and they were ugly. I can't remember having seen both hands outside the shoulder pads so often.

It not only causes holding penalties (7 in 3 games, arguably more that weren’t called) but it allows the defender to get into his chest. He can hold up against smaller guys that way but inside in the NFL will be a whole new animal. He's already taller so leverage will be tougher.

If that's his comfort zone, Philbin should win assistant coach of the year if he's not a total bust.

 

[Starforever]

I like the way he speaks and handles himself.

His floor got a lot higher for me after the PC. I don't see how he would be considered not coachable, but that was written.

It was also written that Micah Parsons lacked football instincts.

Micah: Undisciplined, cannot tackle, cannot cover backs, etc.