Latest news with #DamianParson
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets Rookie Poised for Surprise Impact on Offense
Jets Rookie Poised for Surprise Impact on Offense originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Jets selected Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he could prove this offseason that he deserves a role on the team. Advertisement In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Damian Parson, he picks five underrated rookie who he thinks could make a big impact in their first year in the league. And one of the players he chooses is the former Bulldogs wideout. "Smith's speed and explosiveness work well with manufactured touches... This New York offense should be similar to the Detroit Lions', and Smith could share similar usage as Lions receiver Jameson Williams," Parson wrote. "The Jets are testing Smith out as a returner on special teams... If his momentum transfers to training camp and the preseason, Smith will surely have a sizable impact on this Jets team." The 23-year-old receiver did have a bit of a drop problem when he was at Georgia, but he has reportedly been hard at work with the jugs machine to hopefully helm remedy that issue. In his final year with the Bulldogs, he led the team in receiving yards with 817, and he also had four touchdowns to go with that. Smith also put up some impressive numbers at the NFL Draft Combine, including a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash. Advertisement The Jets are looking for someone to go next to Garrett Wilson on the outside, and Smith could be a very intriguing option for new quarterback Justin Fields to throw to with his explosive athleticism. Related: Can Fields Answer Jets' QB Question? Related: Jets 'Best-Case' Scenario Revealed For Coach Aaron Glenn This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Catch Heat For Offensive Draft Pick
The beauty of the NFL Draft is that many people have different opinions on each player, and that is certainly the case for Washington Commanders' fourth-round pick, Jaylin Lane. The Virginia Tech receiver comes to Dan Quinn's team looking to make his mark on the roster with rookie camp already underway, but not everyone is completely thrilled with the selection. Advertisement Granted, some fourth-round picks can be dart throws, but Bleacher Report draft analyst Damian Parson thinks the Commanders should have drafted Utah State's Jalen Royals instead. "Both Lane and Royals displayed their explosiveness and speed on film and at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. But outside of athletic ability, there aren't many similarities between the two pass-catchers," Parson wrote. "Daniels' deep passing accuracy and off-script playmaking elevated the Commanders' offense into a top-five scoring unit as a rookie. Adding Royals would have given this offense more bang for its buck and versatility for the future." (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) So this is purely subjective and only time will tell if Royals would have been a better fit than Lane, but it is clear the Commanders saw something in Lane that made them select him over Royals. Advertisement Exactly what that is we don't know, but now, we will be watching this Lane/Royals battle if you like throughout their rookie season and beyond. With Lane likely to begin his career on special teams and potentially earn snaps on offense, it will be interesting to see how he develops under Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury. The Buffalo Bills were ridiculed for taking Keon Coleman instead of Xavier Worthy. The Commanders are hoping they won't be in the same boat with Lane and Royals. Related: Commanders Tied To Signing to Fan Favorite Related: Commanders Terry McLaurin Speaks Out On Charity Push
