By Andrew DiCecco, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
PHILADELPHIA — Last summer, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback C.J. Smith entered training camp as a virtually unknown rookie free agent from North Dakota State — the same alma mater as quarterback Carson Wentz. Joining a roster loaded with veteran corners, Smith needed to take advantage of every opportunity presented to him. He did just that, and it was not long before he caught the eyes of head coach Doug Pederson and defensive backs coach Cory Undlin.
Possessing the skills to play both outside and in the slot, the 5-foot-11, 189-pound Smith quietly made his mark throughout camp. In the preseason opener against Tampa Bay, Smith recorded three pass break ups and came up with the game-sealing interception to preserve the 17-9 victory. He received high grades for his debut, scoring as the top-rated cornerback for Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus. Smith's impressive debut continued to translate to the practice field; he began getting more acclimated to the team's defensive scheme.
Ahead of the Week 3 dress rehearsal against the Indianapolis Colts, Smith found himself getting reps with the first team defense. Smith earned 37 snaps in the slot and helped limit opposing star receivers Ty Hilton and Donte Moncrief to a combined six catches for 96 yards. Smith also led the team with seven tackles, as he kept plays in front of him and limited his mistakes.
After a terrific preseason, the Eagles were faced with a difficult decision. The Eagles elected to make Smith one of six corners on their initial 53-man roster. The initial 53-man roster may as well be written in pencil, however, as waiver claims often factor in. Despite initial reports that Smith had made the team, Smith was ultimately one of three players released for players waived by other teams on Sept. 4, 2016. After clearing waivers, he was promptly signed to the practice squad the following day to further his development. Smith was promoted to the active roster on Oct. 13, 2016, where he appeared in 10 games, primarily on special teams.
As is the case with all second-year players, their first official offseason is crucial in taking the next step.
"This year training is much different because I have a year under my belt," Smith said. "It was hard going into my rookie year because I didn't know what to expect, but now I know exactly the things I need to work on to take the next step forward in my game. The things that I worked on this offseason is my off- and press-man technique. Keeping my eyes right and not overreacting."
While the Eagles essentially revamped the cornerback position this offseason, drafting Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas and signing veteran Patrick Robinson, Smith remains. He has drawn praise from veteran leader Malcolm Jenkins, who believes Smith has a bright future in the league.
An Eagles CB to keep an eye on this spring/summer is @Cjsmith_6 . Safety Malcolm Jenkins thinks the kid is a starting-calibre player.
— Paul Domowitch (@pdomo) May 1, 2017
With a season under his belt and a seemingly wide open cornerback battle, Smith sets his sights on 2017. When the Eagles held their mandatory mini-camp in June, Smith found himself in a familiar place: first-team slot corner. He responded by intercepting quarterback Matt McGloin, providing sticky coverage and showing a better understanding of Jim Schwartz's attack defense.
On the heels of a strong mini-camp, Smith enters training camp looking to build off of a promising rookie season.
"My rookie experience was good," he said, "I got the opportunity to get my feet wet on special teams and now ready to dive in. I also had the opportunity to watch a lot of football in general. I think that will help me a lot going into year two."
If Smith does take the next step forward in his game, the Eagles will have a player who can not only help the team in 2017, but well into the future.
