PHOENIX — Any uncertainty regarding Geno Smith’s position with the New York Jets has now dissipated.
“Without a doubt, he is our primary signal-caller,” coach Aaron Glenn stated to NFL Network on Sunday during the NFL gatherings, marking the initial instance someone from the franchise openly affirmed Smith as the starting quarterback.
Aaron Glenn on Geno Smith to the NFL Network this morning. pic.twitter.com/GESYr9lPLn
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) March 29, 2026
Smith, obtained through a March 10 exchange with the Las Vegas Raiders, stands as one of three quarterbacks currently on the team’s roster. The remaining two are Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe, neither of whom has a secure place on the squad. Their collective career starts amount to merely thirteen.
The Jets executed the deal for Smith with the express purpose of establishing him as their initial quarterback. Previously, the sole other seasoned starter on the roster was Justin Fields, who was subsequently moved to the Kansas City Chiefs on March 16.
Consequently, this is Smith’s squad, a dynamic that will persist even if the Jets select a new quarterback or incorporate an additional seasoned player into the lineup, an eventuality that seems probable.
“It signifies having a genuine starting player arrive and guide this offense towards its required destination,” Glenn remarked concerning Smith, aged 35, who was a second-round selection by the Jets in 2013. “He has certainly accomplished this for a few seasons. Specifically, during his tenure in Seattle, where he was, I believe, recognized as the Comeback Player of the Year. Indeed, he was a contender for MVP early in that season. I am entirely confident that we have secured a proficient starter for this roster. I eagerly anticipate his presence within the facility.”
Smith’s most successful periods occurred in 2022 and 2023, during which he commenced play for the Seahawks, accumulating 7,906 passing yards and 50 touchdowns. From a statistical standpoint, he has experienced a two-year downturn; in 2025, his singular campaign with the Raiders, he recorded a league-leading 17 interceptions.
The Raiders, anticipated to select Fernando Mendoza as the top draft choice, had been poised to release Smith. Rather than awaiting his transition to free agency, the Jets proceeded with the exchange, dispatching a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the Raiders in return for Smith and a 2026 seventh-round selection.
The Jets are contributing $3.3 million towards his remuneration, while the Raiders are covering $16.2 million.