When the New York Jets drafted Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft, not everyone was impressed with the decision.
Smith led all Power Four receivers in drops last season despite leading the Bulldogs in all receiving categories last year. He also battled numerous injuries throughout his college career.
Fortunately for Smith, the Jets don’t care what everybody else thinks, and the team is confident it can get quality play out of the speedster. Interestingly, a recent report from one of the league’s most plugged-in reporters enhanced that idea.
The Jets tease Arian Smith’s role
In a news review from draft weekend, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler stated that while the Jets were concerned with Smith’s concerning tape at times, his role on the team won’t be to lead a top program in all receiving categories.
Instead, they’ll create a role using what he does best.
“The Jets are hopeful that fourth-round receiver Arian Smith can curb his drop issue,” Fowler wrote. “Expect New York to use him on smoke routes and jet sweeps to utilize his speed early and ease him into the offense.”
This matches what head coach Aaron Glenn has made clear about Smith since they drafted him. The fact that he has drop concerns isn’t an issue, especially since the player is doing everything in his power to fix it.
“The one thing about this player, he’s very self-aware, and I think it starts there, and he knows he has to get better at that,” Glenn said. “I’ve lived through this with Jameson Williams. When he came into the league, everybody talked about his drops, and he worked on it tirelessly, every day in practice, and I see this player doing the same thing.
“If you’re self-aware and understand you have an issue, and you know you can get better, that’s the start, so I know this player [will] get better at that.”
The best way to get Smith acclimated to the NFL game is to put him in an offensive role that utilizes his speed. Don’t be surprised if he’s used in specific spots aimed at taking the top of the defense, allowing more room for Garrett Wilson underneath.
But wait … what about the other speed-driven situations, such as smoke routes or jet sweeps? The Jets already have a player who needs to be schemed with those routes in mind.
What about Malachi Corley?
Former third-round pick Malachi Corley was the apple of the previous Jets regime’s eyes. He was always a raw prospect as a route-runner with inconsistent hands.
The new Jets regime’s decision to select Smith has put Corley on notice in many ways. He’ll need to make serious strides in his route-running and receiving skills.
If he doesn’t, the new regime could push Corley outside the depth chart as a healthy scratch, or flat-out release him if they feel his role should go to someone like Smith.
For a player who recorded under 50 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season, the eyes of the Jets world are on Corley to see if he can live up to his college nickname of the “YAC King.”
If not, he may be looking for a new team to play for in a few months.
