2011 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Tyron Smith, OT, USC

As we continue our series of 2011 NFL Draft prospect profiles let's look at another of the many offensive tackle prospects who could interest the New York Giants in this April's 2011 NFL Draft.

Tyron Smith of USC is an immensely athletic junior who declared for the draft. Some, including SB Nation's Mocking The Draft, thought Smith would have been better served to stay at USC for his senior season. The more I read about Smith the more he sounds like a Jerry Reese kind of pick to me. Smith seems like a Jason Pierre-Paul type. Young, a little inexperienced, raw -- but immensely gifted with the upside to turn into a tremendous player.

Could the Giants draft a guy like Smith who might not start immediately and still be OK? Probably. I still believe Will Beatty can be an effective left tackle, and the Giants have Kareem McKenzie on the right for at least one more year. David Diehl is still there, even if we would like to see him replaced. This is the type of pick I can easily see Reese making if Smith is available when the Giants pick at No. 19.

Scouting reports after the jump.

Tyron Smith
Offensive Tackle, USC
6-foot-5, 285 pounds
Projection: Round 1

Scouting Reports

From National Football Post:

A tall, athletic-looking offensive tackle prospect with a long frame, long arms and a lot of growth potential in his lower half. Is only twenty years old and still has a lot of maturing to do with his frame and should be easily able to add additional bulk/weight without much of a problem. Plays right tackle at USC and will likely need to learn to make the move to left tackle at the next level, stunting his growth a bit in playing quickly during his rookie year. However, he's a gifted athlete off the edge with natural bend in his lower half, is able to sit into his stance, play with leverage into contact and extend his long arms well at the point of attack. ... Needs to continue to get stronger in order to do the same at the next level, but he should be able to pretty quickly in his career.

Impression: A gifted athlete for the position who at only 20 years old is far from a finished product. However, the flexibility, athleticism, frame and body control are all there for this guy to develop into a very good starting left or right tackle in the NFL, depending on where he feels comfortable.

From Sideline Scouting:

Positives: Very athletic... Reasonably good length and long arms... Good initial quickness... Fluid movement... Good base and nimble feet... Gets good depth on his kick step... Good natural looking knee bender... Good lateral movement and slide... Good lateral range... Good balance... Re-directs quickly, stays in front of defender... Explodes into his blocks... Good arm extension... Very solid run blocker... Adequate strength... Solid somewhat inconsistent hand punch... Can get to the second level... Breaks down well and does a good job blocking in space... Can seal linebackers from the action... Good finisher... Tenacious, flashes a mean streak... Good fit in ZBS.

Negatives: Has kind of a short wind-up to his punch... Punch lacks real pop... Inconsistent hand placement, allows his hands to get wide... Defenders can get inside his body and gain leverage advantage... Rises up when run blocking... Doesn't generate a lot of power at POA... Will lunge into some blocks... Needs to add some weight.

From CBS Sports:

Smith has obvious talent. Blessed with the prototype combination of size, balance and agility, he has the potential to develop into a top-flight left tackle in the NFL. He emerged as a standout in the Pac-10, winning the Morris Trophy as the conference's top offensive lineman as voted by the league's defensive linemen.

The concern, of course, is that he's making a huge jump in competition without having actually operated on the left side. Lacking the bulk and strength teams prefer at right tackle, Smith will be projected to the left tackle position in the NFL. It won't be difficult for scouts to fall in love with Smith's tools and make him an early selection come April.

The team had better be willing to accept growing pains, however, as the 20-year old Smith, while perhaps the most gifted offensive tackle in the 2011 draft, is nowhere near being a finished product.

In the video below, Smith is No. 70 at right tackle. No question you see a guy with a lot of athleticism for the position.

-- See SB Nation's Mocking The Draft for much more NFL Draft coverage.