
#17 S · New York Jets
Height
5'11"
Weight
195 lbs
Age
26
College
Georgia
Draft
2023, Rd 5, #170
Experience
3 yrs
S Rank
#197 / 197
Grade this player:
| Year | Team | GP | INT | PD | Tkl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 36 | — | — | 10 |
| 2025 | ![]() | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 | ![]() | 15 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2023 | ![]() | 12 | 0 |
Length
4 years
Total Value
$4.1M
Guaranteed
$245K
AAV
$1.0M/yr
The Jets took a significant flier on Chris Smith II with a four-year, $4.1M deal that looks like a modest overpay for an unproven safety. At $1M annually, New York is betting developmental upside on a player whose production tier doesn't yet justify even this relatively modest investment. The contract structure offers some protection with minimal guaranteed money at just $200K, but committing four years to an unproven commodity suggests the Jets see traits that haven't translated to meaningful NFL impact yet. Smith's safety position and the low financial risk make this more palatable than it would be at other positions, though the length feels ambitious given his current standing. This D CVI reflects a team reaching for potential rather than paying for proven value, which could work out if Smith develops but currently represents poor value allocation even at this price point.
Chris Smith II earns an F for the Jets at safety, one of the lowest-graded defensive backs in the league. Smith has been thoroughly overmatched at the NFL level, struggling with every aspect of playing safety. His coverage is nonexistent, his tackling has been poor, and his instincts are below replacement level. The Jets secondary has had its issues, and Smith has been the weakest link by a significant margin. New York needs a complete overhaul at the bottom of their secondary depth chart, starting with finding better options than Smith.
No transactions found for this player.
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Recent seasons are weighted more heavily in the overall performance grade.
F
2025
(50% weight)
F
2024
(30% weight)
F
2023
(20% weight)