Prior to free agency, it was revealed that the Las Vegas Raiders were going to release quarterback Geno Smith. However, the team didn’t officially announce anything, so he wasn’t able to test free agency.
It appears that was a calculated decision. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders are trading Smith and a seventh-round pick to the New York Jets for a sixth-round pick.
Unfortunately, this won’t lead to much salary cap saving for the Raiders. They are paying the bulk of the contract, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Regardless, the team is getting a sixth-round pick out of it, which is better than nothing.
For the Jets, they really needed another option at quarterback after a disastrous 2025 season. Smith originally was drafted to the NFL as a second-round pick of the Jets, so this is a homecoming for the veteran quarterback.
Smith is coming off a nightmare season where he led the NFL with 17 interceptions. He also only won two games as a starter. That said, he had a very strong three-year run as the starter for the Seattle Seahawks. He should at least bring some more stability to the quarterback position for New York as they continue to try to find a franchise quarterback.
Smith Isn’t Going to a Much Better Situation
Though returning to New York is a homecoming, it’s hard to imagine Smith is thrilled right now. He’s going from the team with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the team with the No. 2 pick.
The Jets allowed 60 sacks last season, which was tied for second behind the 64 that the Raiders allowed. This is essentially a lateral move for Smith and might actually be a worse spot. At least with the Raiders, he would’ve been coached by an offensive mind in Klint Kubiak.
Las Vegas is happy to get a draft pick out of the deal, but they definitely do Smith any favors.
Vikings Were Also Interested
The Jets weren’t the only team showing interest in Smith. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Minnesota Vikings were also considering a trade.
Though the Vikings also gave up 60 sacks last season, they would’ve been a much more appealing spot for Smith. They have an elite wide receiver duo in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and Kevin O’Connell is one of the top offensive minds in the NFL.
A late-round pick swap didn’t seem like much of a price to pay. Perhaps the Vikings thought the Raiders would cut him, and they could sign him in free agency. Regardless, he’s going to be stuck in New York for at least a season.
In hindsight, Smith likely regrets not doing more to try to stick with the Seahawks. The team just won the Super Bowl, and they wanted to keep him. He wanted to go play with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, which could go down as an all-time miscalculation on Smith’s part. The chances of him winning a lot of games with the Jets next season are very low.
Raiders Pivot on Geno Smith, Make Surprise Move: Report