Next up in our 90-in-90 series is rookie safety Genesis Smith! Let’s get to know this new member of the Chargers secondary!
The Basics
Height: 6’2
Weight: 202 pounds
College: Arizona
Experience: Rookie
Smith is an Arizona native who was born and raised in the city of Chandler. At Hamilton High School, Smith was the definition of a ballhawk as he picked off 16 passes over his three-year varsity career. Smith was rated a three-star prospect and the No. 11 safety in the state before ultimately chose to play for his home
state school in the University of Arizona over other Division I offers from Arizona State, Oregon State, Washington, and Iowa State.
As a true freshman in 2023, Smith played in all 13 games with snaps coming on both defense and special teams. He ended the year with 24 tackles and his first career interception which came against Oklahoma during Arizona’s 38-24 win in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
Smith started all 12 games for the Wildcats in 2024, finishing with 63 tackles (third on the team), 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Following the season, he entered the transfer portal but ended up choosing to stay at Arizona for the 2025 season.
In what would be his final collegiate season, Smith started all 12 games once again. He recorded a new career-high in tackles (77) and fumble recoveries (two) to go with three tackles for loss, one interception, nine pass breakups, and two more forced fumbles. For his efforts, Smith was named a Third-Team All-Big 12 selection after helping the Wildcats to the seventh-ranked pass defense in the country.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, Smith was selected in the fourth round (131st overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Good
Excellent ball skills and nose for the football. Elite interception production was there in high school and he followed it with five picks and 19 pass breakups in three seasons at Arizona.
Smith’s production on the ball can be directly tied to his impressive lower-body explosion. At the NFL combine, Smith jumped 42.5 inches in the vertical which was tied for the second-highest jump among all positions. Before even getting to the catch point, Smith uses his long legs to cover grass fast and effortlessly.
The Bad
Needs to polish his tackling fundamentals. Has the length and size to be a team’s last resort on the back end of a defense but scouts viewed him as a liability overall as a tackler. Allowed far too much YAC in college.
Does not possess a strong fundamental base for him to rely on when pressure mounts.
Hips a surprisingly stiff when he has to change direction suddenly. Starting and stopping looks labored.
2026 Outlook
Smith was drafted in the fourth round despite the Chargers already having plenty of bodies at the position. However, the Chargers need to get younger and the skillset of a true centerfielder is missing in the group. Elijah Molden has been solid, but his injury history is real and he’s better as a movable piece instead of surveying the field as a single-high. Tony Jefferson has also been fine as the backend defender with Derwin James on the field, but he’s also not getting any younger.
Smith will enter training camp as the team’s fifth-string safety, but he could very well still find himself some playing time if an injury or two pops up in front of him. Second-year safety R.J. Mickens flashed as a rookie, too, and it’s likely that he gets more looks this season, as well.
I expect Smith to make the roster as the team’s final safety behind James, Molden, Mickens, and Jefferson.
