Geno Smith is officially headed back to where it all began. The New York Jets acquired Smith in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders on March 10, 2026. The Jets sent a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Instead of letting him hit free agency, where the Vikings and Dolphins were expected to show interest, the Jets jumped the gun to secure him as their new QB1. To facilitate the deal, Smith agreed to a restructured contract where the Raiders reportedly covered a significant portion of his 2026 salary, allowing New York to absorb his veteran presence at a much lower cap hit than his original $26.5 million salary.
Geno Smith Shares His Feelings About Getting Traded to the Jets
Geno Smith was pumped after making his move to New York. The quarterback got honest about the change in scenery.
“Complete full circle moment back to where it all began,” Smith told NFL insider Ian Rapoport. “I’m excited to connect with my new teammates and coaches and everyone in the building as well as build a new relationship with the fan base and community.”
What Does This Move Mean for Geno Smith and the Jets?
Smith was drafted by the Jets in 2013 and spent four years there before his infamous locker-room incident in 2015. He returns a decade later as a veteran leader. This move hints at the end of the Justin Fields era in New York.
Fields is under contract for 2026, but he is now expected to be released or traded. Cutting Fields would result in a massive $22 million dead cap hit, but keeping him as a backup with a $20 million salary does not make sense either.
The Jets are only on the hook for a one-year deal with Smith at approximately $1.3 million. The Raiders agreed to pay roughly $17.2 million of Smith’s salary to facilitate the trade. This allows the Jets to use their remaining $50M+ in cap space to rebuild the rest of the roster.
By moving Smith, Las Vegas clears the path to use their #1 overall pick on a new franchise quarterback, with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza projected to be the selection.
The Geno Smith trade is a go-for-it move for a front office and coaching staff entering a do-or-die 2026 season. After a disappointing 3–14 finish in 2025, General Manager Darren Mougey and Head Coach Aaron Glenn are banking on a veteran quarterback to provide stability and save their jobs.
Geno Smith’s 2025 Season
Geno’s 2025 campaign with the Raiders wasn’t an ideal one. Behind an offensive line that allowed a 10.9% sack rate, Smith struggled with both protection and decision-making. He finished the season with 3,025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions.
His biggest issues occurred in the red zone, where he threw four interceptions, contributing to the Raiders’ league-worst scoring offense. Despite these struggles, he managed a solid 67.4% completion rate, showing that he still has the accuracy that won him Comeback Player of the Year.
Geno Smith’s NFL Career
Drafted 39th overall, Smith’s first stint in New York was marred by high turnover rates and a fractured jaw from a locker-room punch that ended his 2015 season before it started. He left the team with a 12–18 record.
For five years, Geno was a “forgotten” backup, spending time with the Giants, Chargers, and Seahawks. He famously started one game for the Giants, ending Eli Manning’s 210-game start streak.
After Russell Wilson was traded, Geno won the starting job and shocked the world. In 2022, he led the NFL in completion percentage and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. By 2024, he was setting franchise records in Seattle with 4,320 passing yards and earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod before being traded to Vegas in 2025.
