Unknown Jets WR is leaving the team no choice after breakout preseason

Garrett Wilson aside, the New York Jets boast one of the NFL’s weakest wide receiver rooms. A group that has Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson seeing meaningful playing time isn’t something that should ease concern regarding Justin Fields.

Rookie fourth-round pick Arian Smith has been pushing for a starting role, and the Jets have been linked to free-agent receivers like Amari Cooper. But the answer to the Jets’ problems could come from an unexpected source: a 26-year-old rookie who spent the majority of the last couple of years in spring football.

That receiver is Brandon Smith, who has been one of the breakout stars of Jets camp and has even made his mark in the preseason. In Saturday’s 31-12 loss to the Giants, Smith tallied a team-high five receptions for 48 receiving yards, which was headlined by a 20-yard toss from Adrian Martinez.

And now, his summer surge has him pushing to crack the Jets' Week 1 roster.

Brandon Smith is emerging as a Victor Cruz-like underdog for the Jets

After recording 88 receptions for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns across four seasons at Iowa, the Mississippi native went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft. Just like his time with the Hawkeyes, Smith primarily played special teams but was also a depth wide receiver with the XFL's DC Defenders.

Due to his connection with Martinez, Smith wasted no time leapfrogging former third-rounder Malachi Corley on the depth chart in New York. Both he and fellow undrafted receiver Quentin Skinner were the lone bright spots for Gang Green in the loss, which led Aaron Glenn to praise the pair postgame.

"Both of those guys are big guys, both go up and high point the ball,” Glenn told reporters after the game. “I thought it was a good showing for those two guys."

The Jets' wide receiver depth chart is far from set in stone. Wilson, Reynolds, Johnson, and the rookie speedster out of Georgia are likely locks to make the 53-man roster, but that leaves roughly two or three open spots for a few different players: Smith, Skinner, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Jamaal Pritchett, etc.

Lazard could have an upper hand because of his experience and capabilities as a blocker, so it would be surprising if he were cut. One of Gipson or Pritchett will likely make the team as the starting punt returner.

But with one final week of preseason action, anything can happen, so expect to see a lot of Brandon Smith against the Philadelphia Eagles next weekend.

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