Better The Second Time Around For Geno Smith And The New York Jets?

Was Geno Smith just an unknowing cog in the one-year failed experiment that was the Pete Carroll era in Las Vegas? Or was Father Time calling during his age-35 season? It's difficult to know, though the New York Jets are banking on the former, and that he has at least one season of good ball left in him during his return engagement to the Big Apple at the helm of the Jets. Ian Hartitz breaks it down as part of his New York Jets Team Preview.

Can Geno Smith get back to partying like it's 2024?

QB1: Geno Smith (QB29 in Fantasy Life ranks)
QB2: Brady Cook
QB3: Cade Klubnik

Geno is BACK with the Jets, who originally drafted the now 35-year-old veteran with the 39th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

That tenure didn't exactly work out, leading to Geno moving on and spending the 2010s as a backup with the Giants, Chargers and Seahawks—before suddenly he got a chance to start after Russell Wilson was traded to the Broncos.

Then something funny happened: Smith played pretty damn well! Yes, we're now living in the year 2026 and are very aware that Geno's one-year tenure with the Raiders went awful. Also yes, that doesn't erase the reality that the man played some good football during his three years as the Seahawks' starter.

Of course, what happened in 2025 should be weighted more than 2022-24. It is our most recent sample, after all. Still, if the Raiders' offensive line (PFF's 32nd-ranked unit in 2025) and scheme (OC Chip Kelly was fired in late November) were bad enough to hold back Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers … shouldn't at least some slack be given to Smith?

Consider: Supporting Cast Rating, which is calculated by taking every offense's average PFF rank in rushing, receiving, run blocking and pass blocking (everything except passing). Clearly Smith was thrust into a far worse offensive environment in 2025 with the Raiders:

Geno Smith Supporting Cast Rating by season

2022 (Seahawks): 14th
2023 (Seahawks): 15th
2024 (Seahawks): 16th
2025 (Raiders): 31st

Yes, the Jets' supporting cast finished 2025 ranked … 26th. Also yes, there are some quality young pieces in this offense with a chance to grow if you squint. Garrett Wilson and (to a lesser extent) Adonai Mitchell have proven capable of separating at an elite level. Breece Hall is one of the game's most dynamic and explosive running backs. The front office added not one but two additional YAC-minded playmakers in the first round in Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq and Indiana WR Omar Cooper. The offensive line theoretically has a high ceiling if early first-round tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou meet their potential.

Could the Jets still very well function as one of the worst offenses and teams in the NFL? Absolutely. That's been the status quo for over a decade, after all. Still, I'm cautiously optimistic that Geno will be able to provide something closer to his 2022-24 production with a healthy supporting cast.

The problem is whether or not that will still be enough to start 17 games. As we saw last year with Justin Fields, a Week 1 starting job doesn't necessarily come with a long leash. It'd make sense if Geno, a far more proven pure passer, gels better in the system, but then again, it's possible that a couple of turnover-filled stinkers lead to plenty of Klubnik getting an early chance.

And hey, maybe Klubnik surprises. He was 247's composite QB1 in the 2022 class and was a trendy early first-round pick in "way-too-early" 2026 mock drafts. Of course, that was before Klubnik, and really the entire Clemson football program, collectively crapped the bed in 2025. There's enough demonstrated mobility (119-463-7 rushing in 2024) in an offense with places to go with the football to not write off the 22-year-old rookie from the get-go. But let's be honest: It's pretty unlikely either Jets QB is someone you'll feel good about starting in fantasy land in the year 2026. Geno is a fine LATE-round dart in best ball/superflex formats, while Klubnik is nothing more than a late rookie draft pick destined to go from your taxi squad to the waiver wire.

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Published Jun 28, 2026, 6:45 AM ETUpdated Jun 28, 2026, 9:11 AM ET

Better The Second Time Around For Geno Smith And The New York Jets?

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Can Geno Smith get back to partying like it's 2024?

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