Selected in the second round (39th overall) out of Georgia Tech in the 2004 NFL Draft, Daryl Smith quickly proved that the transition from college stardom to the professional ranks required zero warm-up time. Earning a starting spot right out of training camp as a rookie, Smith displayed the sharp diagnostic skills and sure tackling that would make him an indispensable fixture in North Florida for nearly a decade.

While often operating in the shadow of flashier league names, Smith served as the steady, highly versatile anchor for Jacksonville's defensive unit. Capable of seamless shifts between outside linebacker and middle linebacker, he adapted to multiple defensive schemes without missing a beat. He produced two campaigns with a career-high 107 combined tackles (2009 and 2011), regularly disrupting backfields on blitzes and matching up effectively against tight ends in coverage. Following nine productive years in teal, Smith spent three years with Baltimore and a final season in Tampa Bay, though his signature years were defined by his relentless work in Jacksonville.

Overall, as a Jaguar, Smith had 21.5 sacks, 682 combined tackles (540 solo, 142 assists), 57 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles.