Although Elerson Smith was not a household name prior to being drafted into the NFL, his talent and determination have helped him quickly rise through the ranks. After playing college football at Northern Iowa, Smith was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract with the Giants but was waived later that year. He was then signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad, where he continued to hone his skills and prove himself to the coaching staff.