Breaking Down Anthony Smith's 2025 Season: The Good & The Bad | NFL Draft Podcast

Minnesota Golden Gophers’ Anthony Smith powers his way onto NFL Draft radars after a 12.5-sack campaign—but does his lack of elite athletic traits cap his pro ceiling? Damian Parson and Keith Sanchez break down Smith’s disruptive presence, dissecting his versatility as a 6'6", 285-pound edge who dominates both outside and reduced inside alignments. Can he become a top-tier NFL defensive end, or will questions around his explosiveness and finishing power keep him out of the first round? Key topics include Smith’s eye-popping Big Ten production, positional fit in 4-3 versus 3-4 schemes, and comparisons to Darius Robinson and Denico Autry. The conversation tackles his motor, functional strength, hand usage, and risk of NFL teams tinkering with his playing weight. Is Smith destined for a steady pro career—or does he have another level waiting to be unlocked? Don’t miss this essential scouting breakdown. Timestamps: 0:00 Anthony Smith Scouting Intro 0:37 Anthony Smith: Power & Production 1:20 Strengths, Frame, and Versatility 2:40 Backfield Disruption Ability 5:18 Range, Motor, and Scheme Fit 6:34 Moving Him Around—Matchups 8:58 Sack Production Consistency 9:48 Evaluating His Sack Numbers 10:56 Technique, Hands, and Functional Strength 13:08 Pad Level & Upper Body Usage 16:14 Pass Rush Counters & Reaction 18:03 Weight, Position, and NFL Transition 21:16 Draft Grade Discussions 23:30 NFL Player Comps: Darius Robinson, Denico Autry 28:01 Episode Wrap-Up & Next Prospect Preview Photo credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now   Square Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/lockedonnfl! #squarepod   Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.