5.146: Chau Smith-Wade, CB - Washington State
A player who is on the rise is Chau Smith-Wade. Smith-Wade made himself known at the Senior Bowl when he made a diving interception, then got up and returned it for 83 yards. He got down to the one-yard line. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't score and had to settle for a field goal. He grabbed his second interception on a Hail Mary later in the game.
Smith-Wade could look to add some bulk to his frame. He is 5'11" and only 175 pounds. He has good ball skills and is a solid cover corner. He has good mobility in his hips and does a nice job turning around to make a play on the ball. He might be a little too physical though, which could lead to penalties at the next level. He can also get sloppy at times and let up big plays, but he can make up for it with his big-play ability.
The hope is that the Chicago Bears re-sign Jaylon Johnson. Adding Chau Smith-Wade in the fifth round is just some quality depth. He's a player who could develop into a solid starter at the next level too. With the injuries we saw to the defensive backfield last year, he could also help by filling in at times.