The New York Jets have a new QB1.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter shared on social media that the Jets have struck a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire veteran quarterback Geno Smith.
The Jets are flipping a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick and Smith.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero revealed that, “The Raiders are paying the bulk of Geno Smith’s salary to facilitate the trade, per source. The Jets get Smith for a little over the league minimum.”
All Signs Were Pointing in This Direction
On Monday, March 9, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic said it would be a “surprise” if Smith didn’t sign with the Jets once the new league year kicked off on Wednesday, March 11.
It was previously reported that Las Vegas was set to release Smith barring a last-second trade. Instead of waiting for that to play out, the Jets went out and secured their next starting quarterback.
Top Social Media Reactions to Smith Returning to the Jets
“Sources: The Jets chose to trade for Geno Smith as opposed to wait for him to be released to assure they got him. There was some thought within the organization that, had Smith hit free agency, other quarterback-needy teams could get involved and muddy the waters. This way they know they get their guy,” NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY explained.
There was some thought within the organization that, had Smith hit free agency, other quarterback-needy teams could get involved and muddy the waters.
This way
NFL Insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic revealed that, “Geno Smith is already in New Jersey. He was at the Jets’ facility today, taking a physical. Trade official.”
“BREAKING: The Jets are trading for Geno Smith, according to team and league sources. He left after 2016. He is back in 2026. What a story,” Rosenblatt posted.
He left after 2016. He is back in 2026.
What a story.
Smith Returns to Where It All Started
The former West Virginia product entered the league as the No. 39 overall pick in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.
He has been in the NFL for 13 seasons. The first four of those were spent in New York with the Jets.
During that run, Smith appeared in 33 games and made 30 starts. He completed 57.9% of his passes, threw for 5,962 passing yards, and had a 28 touchdown to 36 interception ratio.
In 2017, he went on a backup quarterback sabbatical that lasted five years. He didn’t become a full-time starter again until 2022.
Smith Is Better Than You Think He Is
“Smith is a gunslinger who still has something left in the tank — from 2022 to 2024, league-wide, he ranked fourth in yards, eighth in touchdowns, third in completion percentage and first in lowest percentage of off-target throws (7 percent),” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic wrote.
The former West Virginia product is coming off a rough tenure with the Raiders. Last season he started 15 games. With those opportunities, Smith completed 67.4% of his passes, threw for 3,025 passing yards, and had a 19 touchdown to 17 interception ratio. Smith led the league in interceptions in 2025.
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