Arizona DB Genesis Smith taken in 4th round of NFL Draft by Chargers

Arizona defensive back Genesis Smith was selected 131st overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday.

Smith was the second Wildcat off the board during the draft, following defensive back Treydan Stukes going No. 38 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. Stukes’ selection in the second round marked the third straight year that a Wildcat had been selected in the first three rounds of the draft.

This is the first time multiple Arizona defensive backs have been selected in the same draft since Antoine Cason (No. 27) and Wilrey Fontenot (No. 212) were both picked in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Smith’s pre-draft process included a 42.5-inch vertical jump (third-best) at the NFL Combine and running an unofficial 4.43-second 40-yard dash at Arizona’s pro day. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. listed him as his No. 10 safety prospect and No. 108 overall prospect on his final draft big board.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pound safety set several career highs during the 2025 season with 77 total tackles and eight pass breakups to help Arizona finish as the seventh-best passing defense in the country. He joined Stukes and safety Dalton Johnson as one of three Wildcat defensive backs to receive All-Big 12 honors with a Third-Team nod.

Smith, a Chandler native and three-star prospect out of Hamilton High School, played all three seasons of his collegiate career in Tucson.

The Chargers are coming off an 11-6 season under head coach Jim Harbaugh, making the playoffs as a wild card.

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