Chiefs scouting report: Alabama Crimson Tide DT James Smith

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9 hours ago

Last year, Chris Jones signed a contract extension and earned his third consecutive First Team All-Pro selection. All signs point toward the 31-year-old maintaining his dominance for the foreseeable future. However, the Kansas City Chiefs should keep their eyes on the 2026 NFL draft and the next generation of defensive tackles.
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive tackle James Smith saw his first meaningful action last season. With fewer than 400 career defensive snaps under his belt, Smith is an explosive and slightly undersized developmental lineman with the athletic traits to make a splash in the coming years.
Smith is unofficially listed at 6'3", 296 lbs. He possesses a natural leverage advantage and makes up for his lack of mass by exploding off the line to shoot through gaps. Smith fits the classic penetrating 3-tech role. He displays impressive agility and burst when quickly exchanging gaps at the snap and on stunts.
Smith's power is still inconsistent but takes over some plays with a two-armed bull rush that walks guards or centers into the pocket. His hands lack pop, but his arm extensions pry up the lineman's pad level and create some immediate displacement. Smith lacks elite arm length but compensates with good strike placement.
Smith's pass rush plan includes clubs, converting speed to power, push-pulls, rips and spins. His club-swim is his best pass rush move. It generates some instantaneous wins and early pressures, especially against centers. Smith's hands are active but lack refinement. He needs to play with better control and timing to maximize his athletic traits.
Smith's lack of mass and attacking mentality create a mixed bag of results in run defense. He runs himself out of some plays and doesn't have the hand counters to consistently separate in a timely manner. Smith struggles to hold the point of attack against double teams but uses the knee-drop technique to maintain his positioning and clog run lanes.
Smith's athleticism and terrific motor show up when he finds himself isolated with a guard in the run game. He appears much more patient and in control when facing linemen one-on-one, allowing him to stack and peak blocks before redirecting to the football.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL draft scouting report: Alabama Crimson Tide DT James Smith