2025 NFL Draft: Biggest reaches of Day 3, including Arian Smith to the New York Jets
2S2ADAK NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Arian Smith #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after making a catch and long run during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus the Georgia Bulldogs College Football Playoff Quarterfinal on January 2, 2025, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
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- The New York Jets made one of the boldest bets of Day 3: The Jets selected Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith — ranked No. 343 on the PFF Big Board — with pick No. 110 overall.
- Several other high upside swings: Other notable moves included the Ravens drafting tackle Carson Vinson from Alabama A&M and the Bears adding Michigan State guard Luke Newman.
- Celebrate the 2025 NFL Draft with 25% off PFF+: Get 25% off PFF+ and unlock access to player grades, fantasy tools and the 2025 Draft Guide.
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Day 3 of the NFL Draft is all about chasing upside.
With most of the blue-chip prospects off the board, teams take big swings in hopes of landing hidden gems who can develop into impact players.
It’s hard to consider any of these picks true reaches given the nature of the later rounds, but some selections — like the New York Jets’ bet on wide receiver Arian Smith — stood out as particularly bold. Here’s a look at some of the biggest gambles from Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
110. New York Jets: WR Arian Smith, Georgia (Big Board Rank: 343)
Smith has plenty of athletic tools, and the Jets are clearly betting on his upside after he finished at No. 343 on the PFF Big Board. He stepped into a full-time role for the first time in 2024, earning a 57.1 PFF grade with 10 drops on 48 receptions and just a 22% contested-catch rate.
Sigle projects as a nickel cornerback who isn’t afraid to play physical against the run. Last season, Sigle posted a career-best 85.2 run-defense grade.
195. Chicago Bears: G Luke Newman, Michigan State (Big Board Rank: 340)
After two FCS All-American seasons at Holy Cross, Newman was able to make a smooth transition to the Big Ten. Despite the jump in competition, Newman was up to the challenge, as he didn’t have a single game where his PFF grade went below 60.0.
Vinson is likely to slide inside to guard at the next level after playing tackle at Alabama A&M. He posted an 81.7 pass-blocking grade last season while allowing just 10 total pressures.
Miami addresses the secondary again with consecutive picks in the fifth round. Trader has some versatility to play in the box, slot and deep. He improved his tackling woes, reducing his missed tackle rate from 18.3% in 2023 to 4.8% in 2024.
