Geno Smith: Everything you need to know

Smith gained two key targets Thursday, as the Jets drafted tight end Kenyon Sadiq 16th overall and wide receiver Omar Cooper 30th overall, Mitch Sherman and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic report. Smith was acquired in the offseason to take over as the starting quarterback for a Jets offense that lacked playmakers in the passing game, as Garrett Wilson led the team with 395 receiving yards in 2025 despite being limited to seven games by a knee injury. The Jets are expected to get a healthy Wilson back in 2026 and now boast two additional first-round talents among their pass catchers in Sadiq out of Oregon and Cooper from Indiana. The 35-year-old Smith has thrown 90 touchdown passes over the past four regular seasons, with three of those campaigns coming in Seattle before he played for the Raiders in 2025.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn said in an interview with the NFL Network there's "no doubt about it" that Smith will be the team's starting quarterback. Smith was traded from Las Vegas to New York on March 10th, when Justin Fields (knee) was still on the roster following an injury-shortened season as the Jets' starting quarterback. Fields was then dealt to the Chiefs on March 16th, leaving Smith as easily the most experienced QB on the Jets' roster ahead of Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook. Glenn also said in his interview about Smith that, "It means to have a bona fide starter come in and lead this offense to where it needs to go." During his lone season with the Raiders, Smith completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,025 yards and a 19:17 touchdown-to-interception ratio. That was the third-worst TD-INT ratio of the 35-year-old's career, behind only his first two seasons when he previously started for the Jets in 2013 and 2014. Smith was a journeyman backup before finally getting another chance to be the starting quarterback for the Seahawks from 2022 to 2024. He totaled 71 touchdowns to 35 interceptions as the starter in Seattle, and he completed at least 65 percent of his passes in each season as the QB1.

New York have agreed to terms with the Raiders on a trade to acquire Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The next chapter of Smith's storied career will feature his return to the team that selected him in the second round of the 2013 Draft, and where he spent the first four years of his NFL career. Of course, it wasn't until his three years as a starter with Seattle from 2022-24 that Smith finally blossomed, earning two Pro Bowls and throwing for over 4,000 yards on two occasions. The 35-year-old signal-caller fell down to earth in rough fashion while playing behind Las Vegas' pourous offensive line in 2025, but the Jets will hope the veteran can find his footing again upon returning to New York, where he will benefit not only from superior protection behind a group anchored by tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, but also a pair of valuable offensive playmakers in WR Garrett Wilson (knee) and RB Breece Hall (knee). Smith's arrival may also mean Justin Fields (knee) is no longer in the team's plans.