Everything you need to know about NY Jets rookie WR Arian Smith

The New York Jets will need all the help they can get at the wide receiver position. Aside from Garrett Wilson, the only proven options they have for brand-new starting quarterback Justin Fields are Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds.

When I say "proven," I mean that they can play in the league. I don't mean that they've proven to be highly effective weapons at this stage of their careers. That's why the draft was the perfect opportunity to beef up the position.

In the fourth round, the Jets seized that opportunity, using the 110th overall pick to select the lightning-fast Arian Smith out of Georgia. We will provide you with everything you need to know about the talented young wideout.

Early life and striking gold

Smith, yet another Florida-based Jets draft pick, went to Mulberry High School in Mulberry, Florida. He, of course, played football, manning a handful of positions including quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and even defensive back.

His athletic achievements were not limited to football, however. Smith was a track and field star for Mulberry. He won a gold medal for the USA in the 4x100m relay at the 2019 Pan American Under-20 Athletics Championships along with three other running mates.

Smith would transfer to Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida before his senior year, where he would continue his multi-sport career. In terms of football, however, Lakeland is where he would transition to focusing primarily on wide receiver.

He would be selected for the 2020 Under Armour All-American Game and ultimately commit to the University of Georgia as a four-star recruit.

Health concerns and even more gold

In college, Smith initially played both football and track. In 2021, he was a first-team All-American for the Bulldogs in track. But by 2023, he hung up his track shoes and transitioned full-time to football.

In both the 2021 season and the 2022 season, Georgia would win the National Championship. Smith was able to add more gold to his shelf, this time in the form of two College Football Playoff National Championship trophies.

Unfortunately, though, both seasons were marred by injury for the young wideout, only catching three and seven receptions each year, respectively. Despite a high-ankle injury, Smith still managed to contribute to one of the title bids, going for 129 receiving yards in the Peach Bowl against Ohio State in 2022.

It wasn't until this past college season that Smith truly broke out. He would appear in all 14 games for the second-straight year, finishing with 817 yards on 48 receptions. If not for this extra season of eligibility, Smith likely finishes his college career with just 20 receptions and never gets drafted.

But he made the most of that opportunity, which says a lot. His health is certainly worth monitoring, though, considering it took him three seasons to get fully healthy.

Pre-draft measurables and pro projections

In a football world where speed down the field has often become a requirement, Smith certainly provides the Jets with that. His 4.36 40-yard dash time should tell you all you need to know about his agility, if his track and field career didn't tell you already. The kid is a human gazelle.

Expect to see the top taken off of defenses when Smith attacks opposing teams' secondaries. You simply cannot play him in press coverage, and you will always need a safety deep. If not, he will be running past everyone just a few seconds into the play.

The big drawback in his game, aside from his lack of strength at the catch point, is his hands. He is known for consistent issues with drops, which is obviously a massive concern if not rectified.

Smith is far from perfect. He isn't a fully developed prospect, but he comes with a lot of upside and niche ability, something you look for in the later rounds of the draft.

Where Arian Smith fits with the NY Jets

Smith is unlikely to start many games for the Jets early on. With the concerns about his hands and his inability to "go up and get it" on jump balls, he doesn't immediately profile as a heavy-snaps guy.

But he comes to the NFL with one thing that cannot be taught, and that is speed. As long as he doesn't find a way to lose that before August, the Jets should be able to find use for him. Even if it means being creative to get him the ball in open space, it would be silly not to take advantage of his raw speed.

The league is full of surprises. Anyone who claims to have player development figured out — whether it's Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, or an NFL executive — is lying. We don’t know until we know. And with Smith, we just don’t know.

But crazier things have happened than a rookie quickly blossoming into a starting-caliber receiver. There are countless examples of late-round picks shocking everyone once they hit the field.

The best-case scenario is that the Jets found a hidden gem in the fourth round who makes plays from day one. The worst case is a typical fourth-round miss. The most likely scenario is that Smith takes time to develop but delivers the occasional explosive spark.

As previously mentioned, the current state of the Jets' receiving corps is bleak. Adding a gold-medal winning sprinter to the room simply cannot hurt.

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