Geno Smith Returns to New York Jets as Bridge Quarterback

The veteran QB is back with the team that drafted him in 2013 after a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Quarterback Geno Smith is returning to the New York Jets, the team that drafted him in 2013, in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Jets will send a sixth-round and seventh-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for Smith, who is expected to serve as a bridge quarterback while the team looks to invest in a long-term solution at the position in the upcoming drafts.

Why it matters

Smith's return to the Jets marks a full-circle moment for the veteran QB, who had a tumultuous first stint with the team that ended after a locker room fight with a teammate. The Jets have struggled to find stability at quarterback in recent years, and Smith's experience could provide a steady hand while the team builds for the future.

The details

Smith, 35, was due to make $26.5 million with the Raiders in 2026 before the team planned to release him. Instead, the Jets will take on his contract, which he is expected to renegotiate. Smith led the NFL with 17 interceptions last season, a statistic he'll need to improve upon to win over skeptical Jets fans.

  • On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the Jets and Raiders agreed to the trade.
  • Smith was reportedly at the Jets' facility on Tuesday taking a physical.

The players

Geno Smith

A veteran quarterback who was originally drafted by the Jets in 2013. He is returning to the team after stints with the Giants, Chargers, Seahawks, and Raiders.

Fernando Mendoza

The Raiders' first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, who is expected to take over as the team's starting quarterback.

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What they’re saying

“Geno Smith is going back to the New York Jets, the team that drafted him way back in 2013, in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.”

— Armando Salguero, Author (outkick.com)

“Smith is not the long-term answer at quarterback for the Jets. The team has multiple first-round picks the next two seasons — two this draft and three in the 2027 draft — and should be expected to invest in quarterback with one or more of those (in trade-up scenarios) to address the position.”

— Armando Salguero, Author (outkick.com)

What’s next

The Jets will need to renegotiate Smith's contract, and the team is expected to continue to look for a long-term solution at quarterback in the upcoming NFL Drafts.

The takeaway

Geno Smith's return to the New York Jets represents a full-circle moment for the veteran quarterback, but he will need to prove himself to win over skeptical Jets fans as the team looks to the future at the position.