Sometimes things just don’t work out the way you plan.
The Denver Broncos had an embarrassment of riches at the edge spots last offseason, headlined by stars Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. After a disappointing season from 2013 5th round pick that ended with his third straight season-ending injury dating back to his college years at Western Kentucky, Smith has reportedly been waived.
First reported by Troy Renck of the Denver Post, this roster move comes just days before the draft when the Broncos are rumored to be interested in taking a front seven player with their top selection.
The former fifth round pick at one point led the NCAA in sacks, but has yet to record one as an NFL player. When the Broncos took a risk on him in the 2013 NFL Draft, they felt as though they were getting a 2nd or 3rd round talent that slipped because of his ACL injury. He competed in camp that year for the Broncos, but was placed on injured reserve before the start of the season.
Smith showed flashes at training camp last year, enough that the Broncos kept him on the 53-man roster to start the season, but he graded out negatively in every game he appeared by Pro Football Focus, save for the game against New England.
He notched 11 tackles in over 300 defensive snaps, putting on his best display of pass rush abilities against the New York Jets where he got really close to a couple of sacks, but never notched one.
The Broncos have a few players behind DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller as pass rush options, but none that posted a sack last year (at least from the same position). There are going to be some major changes coming to the Broncos’ roster this week, and it could be the edge rush spot that gets a major makeover early in the draft.
There are rumors that troubled but talented playmakers like Shane Ray (Missouri) and Randy Gregory (Nebraska) could be available when the Broncos are on the clock. Both players have top 10-15 grades for their accomplishments on the field, but are being pushed down or off board because of off field behavior.
The Broncos will have to determine if taking one of those guys is worth the risk.
Denver takes the field on Tuesday for offseason work, and you can expect Shaq Barrett — a 2014 undrafted free agent — to take Smith’s place on the depth chart as he did in the team’s playoff game last year.