Sometimes a draft pick isn’t about polish—it’s about potential. And New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas clearly had a vision when selecting Georgia receiver Arian Smith in the fourth round.
Smith might not have the most complete profile. He has drop concerns, and at 185 pounds, he’s not going to win many jump balls.
But when the Jets called his name, they weren’t thinking size or sure hands. They were thinking speed—game-breaking, space-warping speed.
A raw player with rare athletic traits
Smith was one of the most explosive athletes in this year’s draft class, grading near the top in Relative Athletic Score metrics.
He clocked a blistering 4.36-second 40-yard dash and posted a 1.57 10-yard split, highlighting his elite vertical burst.
The numbers don’t lie. When Smith gets going, there are few defenders in the NFL who can match his stride for stride.
The Jets didn’t draft him to be a traditional wideout. They drafted a mismatch nightmare.
A versatile weapon with a wide-open role
Jets GM Darren Mougey made the team’s plans crystal clear after the pick.
“Elite speed, he has an explosive element,” Mougey said. “When you have a piece like that on offense, it allows you to do more.”
That means more than just deep shots.
“Whether you’re taking the top off or you’re taking shots or you’re getting him on speed sweeps, quick smokes… just elite speed,” Mougey continued. “He brings an element of speed to our offense, an offensive weapon.”
Expect Smith to line up in the slot, out wide, in motion, and anywhere offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett can scheme a mismatch.
If used correctly, he won’t need eight targets a game to make a huge impact.
Cleaning up drops is the biggest hurdle
Smith’s biggest flaw is a catchable one—literally.
His drop rate was far from ideal in college, a problem that might limit early playing time unless corrected quickly.
But if he can focus on improving hand technique and concentration, the upside is undeniable.
The Jets don’t need him to be Garrett Wilson. They need him to be the spark plug that opens up the rest of the offense.
A perfect complement to Fields’ play style
With Justin Fields now leading the offense, the Jets are clearly shifting toward more mobility, speed, and play-action deception.
Smith fits that strategy perfectly.
He’s an ideal jet sweep candidate, a deep-ball threat, and someone who can stretch a defense laterally and vertically on every snap.
The defense has to respect him every time he’s in motion, which helps everyone else on the field.
The blueprint is there. Now it’s about execution.
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