The most intriguing part about training camp is watching players come through with their NFL lives on the line. The players who turn heads in the preseason or in practice to the point where they force their respective teams to reconsider moving on from them. It happens very often this time of year.
So of course, the Atlanta Falcons are seeing their fair share of players on the roster bubble make a late push for a roster spot. And one of the biggest culprits is a player you've probably never heard of in backup safety Keidron Smith, who was claimed off waivers by the team about three weeks ago.
Smith feels like a player who was mainly brought in to be a camp body, offering insurance while both Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts were sidelined, but he's starting to prove he's a whole lot more than that, as he offered one of his most productive days of training camp basically out of nowhere.
Falcons' S Keidron Smith is coming through at the most important time
During Tuesday's practice, the 26-year-old was one of the stars of the show. Per ESPN's Marc Raimondi, Smith picked off two passes: one off Tua Tagovailoa and one off Jack Strand. Talk about coming through in clutch time, since Strand is coming off an impressive showing in Saturday's win.
The 2023 undrafted free agent landed in Atlanta after the Jets waived him, but has also had NFL stints with the Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders, and Miami Dolphins--who originally signed him as an UDFA. So saying he's been around the block in his career is an understatement.
While it was a defensive-heavy practice, as four different defenders recorded sacks, no player did more to help their stock than Smith. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety was named to the All-SEC Second Team in his final season of college, and has the size and athleticism to be a quality depth DB.
Unfortunately for Smith, there likely isn't a spot for him on the Dirty Birds. Xavier Watts and Jessie Bates are locked in as the starting safety duo, and behind them is DeMarcco Hellams and Sydney Brown, both of whom have impressed this summer and it would be foolish to move on from them.
Even Natrone Brooks and Darren Hall have been in the building longer than him, but this is helping the Kentucky product audition for a practice squad spot either in Atlanta or with another team.
Keidron Smith seems to be a promising young player and Tuesday's practice confirmed that, so hopefully another team looks at his late roster push with the Falcons and gives him an opportunity.
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