Unheralded defensive end was a metrics star against Dallas
We really didn’t know much about Elerson Smith prior to the preseason.
Frankly, he seemed like a training camp body at a pretty stacked position. Yet, perhaps the young veteran defensive end will stick around when the Las Vegas Raiders set their initial 53-player roster Tuesday.
Smith has played well in the preseason and according to Pro Football Focus, he was given the highest grade by the metrics site for his performance in the Raiders’ 27-12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday.
Highest-graded Raiders vs the Cowboys:
Elerson Smith – 81.7
Tre’von Moehrig – 76.4
Amari Gainer – 75.5
Andre James – 74.6
Malcolm Koonce – 73.7 pic.twitter.com/zEOk1Ur5sq— PFF Las Vegas Raiders (@PFF_Raiders) August 20, 2024
If Smith plays well against the San Francisco 49ers on Friday night (7 p.m. PT kickoff), he may force the team’s hand.
He was a fourth-round pick of the New York Giants in 2021 and played a total of 13 games for them in 2021-22. He was with the Jets but didn’t play in 2023.
In other Raiders’ news:
- Taking care of the legends: The Raiders are treating their alumni right (as always).
- Here to help: Now the backup, Aidan O’Connell is ready to do what he can to help the team.
- Grades: PFF grades all first-round picks so far in the preseason.