The New York Jets needed a wide receiver to step up to the plate, and that is exactly what is transpiring during training camp.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini revealed in his Sunday morning column on July 27 that pass catcher Brandon Smith is “turning heads.”
He mentioned that “there’s a long way to go in camp”, but he is one of the “unheralded players” on the roster, making noise early in camp.
Smith Is a Total Mystery Man at Jets Training Camp
How unheralded is Smith?
Let me break the fourth wall here. Every NFL player we mention in these articles, we hyperlink to their player profile page. Do you know how many Brandon Smiths I had to get to before I reached the Jets’ wide receiver?
The answer is four.
Brandon Smith No. 1 is a linebacker the Jets cut on October 2, 2024. We will combine Brandon Smith No. 2 (cornerback) and Brandon Smith No. 3 (offensive tackle) on the list, who are both pictureless avatars with no bios.
Getting back to the Jets version of Brandon Smith. He is as invisible as his very generic Madden-created username.
Consider this: Brandon is the No. 41 most common male name over the last 100 years in the world. I’m surprised it isn’t ranked higher.
Another study shows that the last name Smith is the No. 130-ranked most popular last name on planet Earth.
The Arrow Is Clearly Pointing up for Brandon Smith
It is built into Brandon Smith’s DNA to go under the radar, but he won’t be overlooked if he continues to perform the way he has during training camp.
On the second training camp practice, backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor found Smith on a big play down the field.
Smith made a diving catch with rookie cornerback Azareye’h Thomas right in his hip pocket.
Tyrod Taylor ➡ Brandon Smith 🎯#Jets | 🎥 @nyjets pic.twitter.com/LuLVqjRnOU
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) July 24, 2025
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“Tyrod Taylor with a beautiful throw in tight coverage to Brandon Smith, who made a nice play on the ball as he was falling. Smith stood out in the spring too,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic revealed on social media.
Tyrod Taylor with a beautiful throw in tight coverage to Brandon Smith, who made a nice play on the ball as he was falling.
Smith stood out in the spring too.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) July 24, 2025
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“Smith having a really nice open to camp after a strong spring,” NFL analyst Will Parkinson said on X previously Twitter.
2nd year WR Brandon Smith#Jets | 🎥 @nyjets pic.twitter.com/yNswj2reo2
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) July 24, 2025
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Other Longshots to Watch for Jets in Camp
Smith isn’t the only player to watch at camp.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini identified two other long shots “who might make the 53-man roster.”
Wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett and defensive end Eric Watts.
Pritchett, 22, is an undrafted free agent rookie from April’s draft. He stands in at 5-foot-8 and tips the scales at 175 pounds. The former South Alabama product has been pushing Xavier Gipson for that slot receiver and return man role in camp.
Watts, 24, was an undrafted free agent last year. He joined the Jets, making the 53-man roster as a depth piece. He appeared in 14 games, but didn’t make a start. The former UConn product played in 24% of the defensive snaps and 37% of the special teams snaps.
Watts, unlike Pritchett, has outstanding size. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and tips the scales at 277 pounds, per the Jets’ official roster sheet.
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