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Sep 1, 2026
Smith-Wade is a valuable movable piece, not just a backup corner. The more spots he can handle cleanly, the more creative Carolina can be with packages, and the preseason pick shows the ball skills are there.
Strengths: Nickel-outside-safety flexibility, communication, preseason interception, trust, and initial-53 role.
Weaknesses: Multi-position learning can delay a fixed role, and he must keep the physical profile from being targeted by bigger receivers.
