Chau Smith-Wade

Chau Smith-Wade is an NFL cornerback who joined the Carolina Panthers after being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft (Round 5, No. 157) out of Washington State. Born September 17, 2002, in Denver, Colorado, he played his high school football at Simeon Career Academy in Illinois. Listed at 5-foot-11 (71 inches) and 176 pounds, Smith-Wade wears jersey No. 26. In his early NFL production, Smith-Wade’s most notable regular-season line came in 2025: he played 16 games with 6 starts and posted 55 combined tackles (42 solo, 13 assists). His coverage metrics included 47 targets, 39 completions allowed, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception. That pick turned into a scoring play—an 11-yard interception return touchdown—highlighting a key player career milestone. He also recorded 1 tackle for loss (5 yards) and was flagged just once for 5 penalty yards. In 2025 preseason action, he logged 2 games (1 start) with 3 combined tackles, plus 1 postseason game with 4 combined tackles. This Chau Smith-Wade NFL Profile reflects a defensive back used in both coverage and tackling support roles.