Football is officially back, as the New York Jets held their first training camp practice on Wednesday morning. Reports of player performances throughout the 90-minute pad-less session graced our timelines. One particularly notable standout was rookie wide receiver Arian Smith.
Jets general manager Darren Mougey selected Smith with a fourth-round pick (No. 110) in the 2025 NFL draft. The former Georgia standout is tasked with adding speed and explosiveness to the offense. By all accounts, it was a promising first practice for Smith in East Rutherford.
Smith impressed reporters with his route-running prowess, per Nick Faria. That’s interesting, because route running wasn’t a strength of Smith’s at Georgia last season. It strongly indicates the first-year playmaker is already working on improving his weaknesses.
Arian Smith’s route-running is a lot better than people realize. Definitely better than it looked in college.#Jets
— Nick Faria (@Nick_Faria1720) July 23, 2025
Smith impressed the Jets by running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. That speed and ability didn’t always pop on tape, with Smith occasionally struggling with route-running and dropped passes at Georgia. Ultimately, he produced 48 receptions for 817 yards and four touchdowns this past campaign. The Jets also envision him making an impact on special teams this season.
Jets starting quarterback Justin Fields is looking for passing-game weapons to emerge opposite Garrett Wilson. Smith could carve out for a role for himself on offense if his route-running makes him a QB-friendly target for Fields. It’s early, but Smith’s first training camp practice indicated he’s a better route runner than advertised throughout the pre-draft process.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets training camp: Arian Smith surprises with route-running prowess