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Josh Smith may have exited the NFL Draft as a free agent back in April, but the former Tennessee wide receiver didn’t let that stop him from pursuing his dream of playing at the next level.
After participating in a tryout during the New Orleans Saints’ minicamp last week, Smith was offered a contract to join the team on Thursday according to NOLA.com.
Source: Saints signed WR Josh Smith and OL Trevor Darling after working them out at minicamp. Fullback Ryan Yurachek and OL Cory Helms were waived.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) June 14, 2018
The deal is good for three years, and Smith will officially share the company of former Vols Rashaan Gaulden (third round, Panthers), Khalil McKenzie (sixth round, Chiefs) and John Kelly (sixth round, Rams) who also signed rookie contracts and will be NFL rosters heading into 2018.
Smith isn’t the only Tennessee player who worked his way onto a roster, as he joins Trevor Daniel (Texans), Evan Berry (Browns), Emmanuel Mosely (49ers), Ethan Wolf (Titans) and Kendal Vickers (Steelers), all of whom were free agents following the 2018 NFL Draft.
The 6’1, 206-pound Smith, who was a product of the Christian Academy of Knoxville before playing four years for Butch Jones at Tennessee, finished his collegiate career with 63 receptions and five touchdowns for 764 yards.
One of his more memorable plays was this 39-yard touchdown catch just before halftime to start Tennessee’s rally, pulling them within two scores in a 38-31 win over Georgia in 2015.