Jets sent a clear and disappointing message to Arian Smith in Week 11

When the New York Jets drafted Arian Smith in the fourth round back in April, the expectation wasn’t that he’d walk in and become a star, but the hope was that he’d at least have every opportunity to grow into a meaningful role.

The Jets’ wide receiver room was (and still is) one of the thinnest in the NFL. If there was ever a landing spot where a raw, developmental speedster could carve out early snaps, this was it.

But last Thursday night's Week 11 loss to the New England Patriots told a very different story. Smith played just nine offensive snaps, his lowest workload since Week 1. Meanwhile, two receivers who weren’t even on the roster a few weeks ago, John Metchie and Adonai Mitchell, immediately stepped into featured roles.

Return man Isaiah Williams and veteran Tyler Johnson played significantly more as well. Smith's role in the offense has seemingly evaporated, and given his production (or lack thereof) this season, it's not hard to figure out why.

Arian Smith is plummeting down the Jets depth chart

Needless to say, Smith was a polarizing pick for the Jets at the time. Widely projected as a late Day 3 prospect — and by many evaluators, a potential undrafted player — he profiled more as a track athlete than a polished receiver.

His athletic upside was undeniable, but so were the flaws. Smith struggled mightily with drops at Georgia, recording 10 drops in his senior season and three drops on just eight catches in 2023.

His career yards-per-catch average (19.94) highlighted his straight-line speed, but he lacked nuance as a route runner and rarely made contested plays. That didn't stop the Jets from using a fourth-round pick on him, however.

Still, if there was a WR room where he could survive while developing, it was the Jets’. And yet, 10 games in, Smith has become an afterthought. Despite playing 319 snaps, over half of the team’s offensive snaps this season, he has just six catches for 47 yards.

Among 134 wide receivers with at least 10 targets this season, his 0.23 yards per route run is dead last by a wide margin. His 50.0 Pro Football Focus grade ranks 125th of 128 qualified receivers.

Yes, Justin Fields’ abysmal play has handicapped every Jets wideout, but Week 11 showed that the coaching staff still sees Smith as the least ready option. Metchie played 47 snaps. Williams played 42. Johnson played 30. Mitchell, despite three drops, played 28 and was targeted six times. Every one of them was targeted at least thrice.

Smith finished with just nine snaps, zero targets, and no real involvement in any facet of the game. This isn't because the Jets are suddenly loaded at receiver. It’s because they don’t trust Smith right now.

The Jets invested a high-end Day 3 pick at a position of dire need. Right now, it looks like they may have whiffed, and in Week 11, their usage sent that message louder than words.

If Smith can't produce or even get snaps in this receiver room, that doesn't exactly bode well for his NFL future. Maybe, just maybe, everyone else was right and the Jets were wrong on this one.