The USC Trojans faced a significant shift in 2025 as their streak of producing first-round NFL draft picks came to an abrupt halt. Cornerback/safety Jaylin Smith was selected by the Houston Texans at No. 97, a move that many analysts, including Pro Football Focus, labeled as a considerable reach. Smith was ranked as the 241st player on PFF's draft board, which raises questions about the Texans' decision to prioritize him over other prospects like Dorian Strong and Cobee Bryant.

Despite his position versatility and ability to play press coverage effectively, Smith's college stats, which include just two interceptions and three forced incompletions, did not showcase the ball-hawking skills typically sought in a high draft pick. This decline in first-round talent highlights a challenging transition period for USC as they look to rebuild their NFL pipeline.