The Miami Dolphins were without a first-round draft pick in April’s annual selection process, so their opening selection wasn’t made until pick No. 51 overall.
With that pick, the Dolphins drafted South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith, which was a bit of a shock to fans, as Miami seemed to be rather deep at the position entering the event.
Smith will have an opportunity to compete for the third cornerback spot behind former All-Pros Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard. He’ll be fighting against Nik Needham, who’s returning from a torn Achilles, and Kader Kohou, who showed out as an undrafted rookie in 2022.
Last month, Dolphins podcaster and writer Travis Wingfield spoke to South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer regarding the cornerback, and competition was one of his main takeaways from coaching him.
“I think the biggest thing with him, and you guys will see it, is just what a competitor he is,” Beamer said. “Cam didn’t really have to say anything. He did it with his actions on the field, and I know that’s cliche, but we talk about competition here all the time, and one of the things about Cam is that he loves to compete. No matter what was going on, when he stepped foot on the football field, whether it be a game or a practice, he turned it on. He’s a fierce competitor, and that’s the biggest thing. Competition’s a core value in the program, and he displayed that every time he competed.”
Competition is a great attribute for an NFL cornerback, especially one that will have to beat out veterans to earn more opportunities as a first-year player. However, it might be his mind that led to him being targeted by Miami.
“One thing about Cam that I don’t think he gets enough credit for is just how football smart he is,” Beamer said. “Some of my best memories of him are just being on the practice field, and he would come up and just ask me questions that make you think as a head coach as well. He really studies the game, and I think (he) does a really good job of that.”
If Smith can correct his penalty issue that plagued him during his collegiate career, he could be a great addition to this defense that really solidifies the unit.