Pros and cons of Tampa Bay picking Georgia football's Tykee Smith in 2024 NFL Draft

Tykee Smith from Georgia football is officially an NFL rookie after being picked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. He was selected 89th overall.

Here's what Smith brings to the Buccaneers based on our own observations from his tenure at Georgia:

What Tykee Smith brings to Tampa Bay in 2024 NFL Draft

Tykee Smith made his impact felt in two Power Five conference programs at the start and end of his college career while battling some injuries in the middle of it. The Philadelphia native was a freshman All-American in 2019 at West Virginia and a third-team AP All-American in 2020 before transferring to Georgia. He played just one game in 2021 while batting injuries including a season-ending knee injury. He was a part-time starter the next year and a full-time starter last season, becoming a second-team All-SEC nickel back.

Tykee Smith highlights, strengths, weaknesses at Georgia football

Showed a knack for making plays with the ball in the air last season when he had a team-high four interceptions and led the team with 70 tackles and 8 1/2 tackles for loss. His 85.8 coverage grade by Pro Football Focus was third best on the team, but he gave up three touchdowns in coverage. He had a career-high 10 tackles including eight solo stops in 2023 against Tennessee. "He’s a fierce competitor," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.

Tykee Smith stats at Georgia and West Virginia

215 tackles, 5 sacks, 8 interceptions, two forced fumbles.

Tykee Smith potential in NFL

Smith played safety at West Virginia and despite starting at the "Star" nickel spot for Georgia in 2023, one draft analyst doesn't see him filling that role on the next level. Greg Cosell of The 33rd Team writes that Smith is "not a true slot corner. This puts him in the safety category and there are athletic limitations there as well. Smith will likely transition best as a sub-defense hybrid who plays underneath coverage in zone, matches tight ends man-to-man at times, depending on the TE, and as a blitzer."

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Tampa Bay drafts Tykee Smith in 2024 NFL Draft: Pros, cons of pick