Toledo DB Avery Smith signs as undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers
The Georgia native moves to the West Coast for his first professional stop.
Quinyon Mitchell's heir apparent will also get a shot at the NFL. Avery Smith signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, per Tom Pelissero.
Smith replaced Quinyon Mitchell admirably, finishing with 42 tackles, five TFLs, an interception, 11 passes defensed and a blocked kick in 2025. Smith's best statistical season was 2024, when he finished with 58 tackles, two interceptions, 16 passes defensed and a blocked kick. Smith finished his career with back-to-back placements on the second-team all-MAC defense.
Bleacher Report's Daniel Harms calls Smith an "instinctual risktaker at the cornerback position who drives downhill with quickness and sifts traffic laterally to read and react to routes." This style should allow Smith to make a name for himself in the preseason as he pursues a roster spot.
Over the years, Toledo prospects have shown quick adoption to the NFL, which should help assuage any concerns about the competition level in the MAC.
Smith could find himself competing right away for a contributing spot at the cornerback position. As of publication, the Chargers roster Jordan Oladokun, Tarheeb Still, Eric Rogers, Niko Reed, Donte Jackson and Cam Hart at the corner spot, and did not draft any corners with their other picks.
At the floor, Smith is an excellent core special teamer and will elevate competition on that side of the ball right away. He will need to get stronger at the NFL level, as missed tackles were a slight concern, but Smith projects to be a potential nickelback with a specialty in recovery burst and play recognition.
