It’s so easy to get caught up in big names, especially at the receiver position.
But sometimes if you give a lesser name a chance, you can be pleasantly surprised.
Second-year Boston College receiver Jeff Smith is a player the Jets like.
After signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Smith spent most of last season on the team’s practice squad, before before getting promoted late in the season to the regular roster, but quickly landed on injured reserve.
Smith has a nice combination of size (6-1, 195) and speed (4.4), and made great improvement last year under the watchful eyes of Jets coaches Shawn Jefferson and Hines Ward, two former talented NFL wideouts.
Remember, Smith played quarterback his first two years at Boston College, so when he arrived in Florham Park, he was still getting comfortable in his wide receiver skin. He has made great progress over the last year.
“I feel like he’s really kind of come into his own at that position,” said Jets coach Adam Gase. “He’s a former quarterback that played receiver when he came on as an undrafted guy. When I watch him now you can see he’s got a good feel for what’s going on.”
And with his speed, he’s very good at getting open.
“He’s wired to separate,” Gase said.
Don’t be a wide receiver snob like some observers.
Let’s see what he can do.
There have been plenty of undrafted receivers who’ve shined when given a chance.
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