ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has stirred up the quarterback market, and this time, a familiar name is emerging as a potential solution for the New York Jets. According to Fowler, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith has been linked as one of the three veteran passers who could realistically be made available via trade, alongside Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray.
For a Jets team entering a pivotal offseason under head coach Aaron Glenn, the pressure to stabilize the quarterback position is mounting. While the Jets could opt for a longer-term rebuild and wait for the 2027 quarterback draft class, league executives believe that approach may not align with Glenn’s immediate need to win.
“Do the Jets get one of those three — that’s really the question I have,” one AFC executive told Fowler. “They could go young and load up for the 2027 draft of quarterbacks, but the head coach probably needs to win, so he might need more of a reliable option.”
Among the quarterbacks mentioned, Smith’s situation stands out as the most financially and logistically manageable option for the Jets, according to Fowler, which could see Smith leave after just one season with Las Vegas.
Raiders’ Draft Position Could Accelerate a Trade
From the Raiders’ perspective, the timing of this is notable. Las Vegas traded a 2025 third-round pick to acquire Smith, yet he struggled to meet expectations, and as a result, the Raiders now have the first overall pick in this year’s draft.
With Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza widely expected to be the Raiders’ selection, it makes Smith expendable, especially for a franchise looking to build around a younger, cost-effective QB.
If Las Vegas does move forward with drafting Mendoza, which is expected to be the case, trading Smith could help recoup assets and clear the path for the rookie to take over immediately.
As Fowler’s reporting highlights, the Jets will need to make significant plans for a veteran passer regardless of the direction they choose in the draft. There won’t be pressure for whoever the Raiders decide to hire as head coach in their first year with a rookie quarterback, whereas Glenn is walking on thin ice in New York and needs a veteran QB.
Geno Smith Makes Sense for the Jets
GettyGeno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on during the third quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.
While Tagovailoa and Murray are both former Pro Bowlers who provide more upside than Smith, their contracts complicate any potential deal.
Miami and Arizona are tied to significant guaranteed money, with Murray alone carrying $37 million in guarantees remaining. There is skepticism around whether Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill would be willing to absorb a large portion of that money just to ship Murray away.
Smith’s contract, by comparison, is far more flexible. He agreed to a two-year, $75 million extension last offseason, but only $18.5 million is guaranteed for 2026, with another $8 million becoming fully guaranteed on the third day of the new league year. That structure gives the Jets a manageable financial path if they decide to pursue a veteran quarterback.
Either way, Smith likely played his last snaps as the Raiders’ starting quarterback.
Raiders $75 Million Player Linked as Top Option in Trade With Jets