The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Georgia safety Tykee Smith with the 89th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and with his winning pedigree as a Bulldog, the team hoped he could come in and make an immediate impact on a defense that needed help.
Smith was part of two Georgia national championships and tallied 70 tackles, four interceptions and two sacks in his final season with the Bulldogs before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Smith started six games in 13 appearances for the Bucs in his rookie season and notched two interceptions, seven passes defended and three forced fumbles while becoming a staple in the secondary.
He also tallied seven tackles with five solo in Tampa Bay's Wild Card loss to the Washington Commanders in the postseason.
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report offered a list of each team's best-kept secret, and Smith is that man for the Buccaneers.
"Smith showed a lot of promise during his rookie season in Tampa Bay. The 2024 third-round pick hauled in a couple of interceptions and seven passes defended to earn a solid 69.0 PFF run defense grade during the regular season, and he was even better against the run with an 88.1 mark and four tackles for loss. The Georgia product has the makings of becoming a Pro Bowl-caliber nickel for the Bucs."
If Smith can turn into that "Pro Bowl-caliber" player for the Bucs that Holder predicts, he'll be another excellent find by general manager Jason Licht.
