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“Zach Wilson is our quarterback” were the words spoken by New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas following the 2022 NFL trade deadline.
It was a similar sentiment that was echoed by head coach Robert Saleh both after the latest game and at his Monday press conference. For better or for worse the Jets will continue to ride the Wilson train through the rest of this season barring injury.
However, that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating about the future of the position.
Jets Fans Strongly React to the Potential Return of QB Geno Smith
Wilson is the only Jets quarterback currently under contract for the 2023 season. Inevitably Gang Green will be forced to add some more bodies to the room regardless of the way Wilson plays throughout the rest of the season.
Jets beat reporter Zack Rosenblatt hosted an Instagram live on Tuesday night and one fan asked about the possibility of signing Geno Smith next offseason.
Rosenblatt laughed and said, “that would be fun.”
That led to some very interesting reactions on social media with Smith set to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
Twitter user Jets Killed Carl brought up a solid point that the remarkable Smith we have witnessed so far this season in Seattle (more on that later), could just be a mirage.
Twitter user Phil Orris says Smith might not even reach free agency. He suggests that the Seahawks might just slap the franchise tag on him which would lock him in through the 2023 season.
Twitter user Jordan Evangelista emphatically said, “God no no no no no” to the thought of bringing Smith back.
Other fans on social media displayed their frustration with parts of the fan base that are either openly entertaining replacing Wilson or even thinking about it for the future.
The NFL is a unique beast in that evaluations often change on a week-to-week basis seemingly riding the emotional roller coaster of the season.
In other words, a strong Wilson performance on Sunday versus the Buffalo Bills could immediately kill all of this chatter. However, another turnover-filled performance could certainly intensify the questions about his future.
Geno Smith vs. Zach Wilson for Jets QB Supremacy
Smith originally entered the league as the No. 39 overall pick in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.
The former West Virginia product played through his entire rookie contract with Gang Green and delivered mixed results:
- 12-18 record as a starter
- 5,962 passing yards
- 28 touchdowns to 36 interceptions
However, once his contract expired he started touring a variety of NFL teams as a clipboard-holding backup quarterback. Eventually, that landed him with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 and he bided his time until he received an opportunity.
With Russell Wilson now out in Denver after a blockbuster trade this past offseason, Smith has exploded with his opportunity this season:
- 73 percent completion percentage
- 13 touchdowns to 3 interceptions
- 1,924 passing yards
On top of his individual success, the Seahawks are in sole possession of the first place in the NFC West with a 5-3 record.
With this kind of success, Smith seems set for a big contract in free agency if he makes it there. Who knows how the Jets will feel about Wilson at that moment in time, however, it would be wildly fascinating to see Smith return to the place where he started his career.
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