Adam Butler praises rookie Gary Smith III's nose tackle potential
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 17, 2026, 1:14 AM
Last updated Aug 17, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler commended undrafted rookie Gary Smith III during training camp on August 17, 2026. Butler compared Smith's imposing presence to former New England Patriots nose tackle Alan Branch, noting his difficulty to move under double teams. Despite being shorter than Branch at 6-1 and weighing 320 pounds, Smith has shown impressive performance, leading to increased practice reps. Following the release of veteran Benito Jones, Smith may secure a more prominent role on the team if he continues to perform well.
- •Adam Butler cites Gary Smith III's strong performance in training camp.
- •Smith has been receiving more practice reps since Benito Jones' release.
- •Butler compares Smith to Alan Branch from the Patriots dynasty.
- •Smith played at UCLA after transferring from Duke, bolstering his experience.
- 1:14 AMYahoo Sports — Raiders DT Adam Butler says rookie reminds him of NT of 'Patriots dynasty' days
"Returning starter Adam Butler touted the play of Raiders undrafted rookie, comparing him to a 2-time Super Bowl winning former teammate.
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