Genesis Smith, LB, Arizona Wildcats: 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report plus pro comp

Arizona safety Genesis Smith has seen his name grow in popularity among NFL Draft media circles recently, and he's a rare type of watch. To sum it up in a single sentence, he's essentially a liability as a tackler, but has enough athletic ability and coverage prowess to warrant early-round draft consideration. Where he gets selected and how his development progresses can be a topic of extended debate, and he puts a lot on tape, both good and bad.

He was an impactful piece on the Wildcats' secondary in each of his three collegiate seasons, beginning in 2023, where he made his name known on defense and special teams across 13 games. His stock firmly trended upward from there, putting together a solid sophomore campaign in 2024, and exiting college with an All-Big 10 mention after 2025, before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Genesis Smith NFL Draft Profile:

Position: Safety

School: Arizona Wildcats

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 202 pounds

Hometown: Chandler, Arizona

Statistics:

2025: 77 Tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT, 9 PBU, 2 FF

Career: 164 Tackles, 6.5 TFL, 5 INT, 19 PBU, 4 FF

Strengths:

Linear transitions are sharp, range well between areas, and can pivot easily to work back toward assignments

Looks comfortable when working to the outside in run fits

Solid straight-line speed, and he has the instincts to close out routes quickly

Reads the QB's eyes well when working the middle of the field, can smoothly rotate to shut down open routes in zone

Such a fluid mover when sitting into his backpedal, keeps his base leveled, and can stay athletically engaged to shoot out in any direction quickly

Patient tracker, when following crossing routes in man coverage, will keep himself at a short distance to adapt when necessary, as plays develop

Able to position himself well at a distance in the second level against the run, will re-direct some plays just by plugging gaps within the ball carrier’s vision

Controls his body well to laterally work around blocks from receivers

Passes off assignments with good discipline, and he works back to leaking routes on extended plays

Not afraid to stick his nose in run plays and get involved in high physicality situations

Compact movements are impressive to watch in coverage, get sticky with wideouts, and can get physical at the catch point

Weaknesses:

Incredibly inconsistent tackler, struggles to wrap up, and has issues with his pursuit angles

Eyes stay too far in the backfield, and he runs into too much unnecessary contact when working toward the line of scrimmage against runs

Has consistent issues with slowing himself down as a tackler and corralling ball carriers

Can be too aggressive at times when crashing on routes, will be susceptible to pump fakes

Needs to extend more often and with better timing, could impact some plays, but chooses not to

Recovery speed isn’t the greatest, will have problems with overcommitting and staying in the play

NFL Outlook:

Starting with the issues, it’s rare to see a player be as much of a liability in the tackling game as Smith is. He takes bad routes, has poor technique, and isn’t physical enough to make up for it. In coverage, however, he’s everything NFL teams look for in a safety. He flows through coverages, snaps onto routes, and has the length and technique to be a disruptor at the catch point. A move to nickel could be in his future, but whether it’s there or at his familiar safety position, I have heavy confidence in Smith contributing to an NFL defense for years to come.

NFL Player Comparison

There's a lot to like with Smith's game, and it's been proven that a player with his profile can succeed in the NFL, with the most recent case being Houston Texans' safety Jalen Pitre. His career path will come down to just how much his coverage skills can offset his tackling woes. Pitre is definitely on the higher-end of outcomes that Smith can reach, but if he puts all his tools together, becoming that type of long-term starter who can produce around the secondary could be in the cards for him.

Prospect Grade:

Early 3rd Round