Finding a niche as a special teams mainstay isn’t necessarily the sexiest way to go about an NFL career.
But for a late-round draft pick, that career path can lead to a long career as special teams is the easiest and most prolonged way in ensuring you’ve got a 53-man roster spot year in, year out.
This is where Las Vegas Raiders safety Chris Smith II finds himself. Entering his third year in the league after being taken in the fifth round (170th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, the 25-year-old hasn’t been able to break into the defensive rotation but is an active participant in Tom McMahon’s special teams group.