Interest on rise for crazy-athletic Michigan defensive prospect

On Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills hosted Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith on a top-30 visit. The Bills are not the only team to show recent interest in the Wolverines' big man. Indeed, Buffalo is just the latest stop for the future NFLer.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Smith has already had over 20 meetings or visits with teams, making him one of the busiest men in the 2023 NFL Draft pool. Among these teams are the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears.

While Smith did not test at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine earlier this spring, his athletic numbers were reported over the summer in Bruce Feldman's annual "Freak's List" at The Athletic. Smith ranked No. 1 on that list. In his one combine testing activity, he lifted a position-high 34 reps.

A lack of statistical production could hold the athletic interior lineman back from being a first-round lock, though. In 30 career games in maize and blue, Smith recorded just six tackles for loss and half a sack. While he has shown definite promise as a run-stuffing defensive tackle, his lack of a refined pass-rushing skill set leaves room for questions about his potential impact on second and third downs at the next level.

The former Wolverine could also be viewed as a ball-of-clay prospect worth taking in the first round, though.

The Bills and Chiefs -- both reported to have met with Smith -- could be potential first-round fits upcoming. Bills' defensive tackle Ed Oliver has raised speculation as a potential trade target as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. Buffalo has also shown a tendency in the past to add to their defensive line in the first round of drafts.

As for the Chiefs, Kansas City could target the Michigan star in an attempt to get younger in the trenches while adding a run stuffer to pair alongside star defensive tackle Chris Jones and to upgrade over Derrick Nnadi.

If Smith falls out of the first round, there are plenty of teams that could be interested in his services. The Bears have been tied to Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter in the first round, but if the off-field concerns surrounding Carter are too strong for Chicago, they could look Smith's way on Day 2. The Bears have already met with Smith, per Rapoport's report.

Another team that would love to see Smith fall to them is the Cleveland Browns, who posted bottom-10 numbers in rushing defense in 2022. Smith, alongside new free agent signing Dalvin Tomlinson, could provide an immediate boost to Cleveland's defensive front. The Browns moved their 2023 second-round pick to the New York Jets in a trade for Elijah Moore, but they could entertain a trade up using their pair of third-round picks.

Lastly, the Arizona Cardinals, who have pick No. 34, could have interest in replenishing their defensive line after losing JJ Watt and Zach Allen  this offseason. Arizona needs a boost on defense and a pair of defensive selections in the first and second rounds could help jumpstart a defensive rebuild.