Jess Haynie
The Dallas Cowboys added free agent Cornerback Saivion Smith yesterday. So, who is this guy? What significance could this move on the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft and the rest of the offseason process?
Smith’s most recent job in professional football was in the XFL with the Houston Roughnecks. He went undrafted by NFL teams in 2019 and signed as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but didn’t make it past final cuts.
Jon Machota on Twitter
Cowboys have signed CB Saivion Smith (6-1, 200). He’s a former 5-star recruit who went to LSU before finishing his college career at Alabama. Smith had 3 INTs, 5 pass breakups for the Crimson Tide in 2018.
Rob Phillips on Twitter
CB Saivion Smith was a starter at Alabama in 2018 after transferring to the Tide. Led them with 3 picks that year. Left with a year of eligibility remaining, went undrafted, cut by the Jaguars at the end of camp last year.
Though coming off the football scrap heap, Saivion is still just 22 years old and has some solid NFL measurables. At the 2019 combine he was listed at 6’1″ and 199 lbs.
While Saivion did go undrafted last year at least one draft analyst had Smith pegged as having 4th-5th round potential. However, the Cowboys selected Miami’s Michael Jackson in the 5th Round of the 2019 Draft.
Still, that doesn’t mean they didn’t have their eye on Smith. He certainly has the body type that Kris Richard was looking for in his cornerbacks.
Of course, this move has no bearing on the Cowboys’ plans for the top of the 2020 Draft. They still need a true number-one CB to replace Byron Jones and I would expect one to be taken in the first or second round.
However, there are opportunities at the bottom of the depth chart and practice squad for a guy like Saivion. Dallas cut Michael Jackson last year as a rookie and recently lost prospect Donovan Olumba in free agency. Smith could compete for a developmental role.
One big year at a school like Alabama can go a long way to putting you on the NFL radar. We’ll have to wait and see what Saivion Smith does to capitalize on this second chance.
Now that he’s had a taste of the NFL Experience could surprise. Had NFL Coaching @ LSU & Alabama.
Obviously this guy is a good athlete! It’s amazing what a good coach can do so Coach Him Up and let’s see what happens!!
Cowboys should get super great players in free agency, Smith looks like he is a project
There are still very good player on the free agency list. Go big Dallas, you need to get busy and compete, as Philadelphia is looking like another good year. We need to load up and beat them this year. It’s time to get going again.
A Cowboy fan since 1970 he could be no more worse than Benny Barnes or Everson Walls I’ve seen a lot of Corners come and go for the Cowboys throughout the years and that garbage I ain’t seen the last three or four years come on let’s get this kid a try
IMHO, I think Walls was a pretty good cornerback.
Goathouse likes Diggs as second best CB, and over Henderson. Would be nice to get him in the 2nd Rd.