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Jets Install Geno Smith as 2026 Starter as Backup Search Shifts Away From Wentz

Las Vegas will cover most of his 2026 salary, keeping the Jets’ cost near $3 million.

Overview

  • The Jets acquired Smith from the Raiders for a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2026 seventh-rounder, with reports placing New York’s outlay at about $3.0–$3.3 million this season.
  • Team and media reports indicate Smith will open 2026 as the starter, and he will run Frank Reich’s offense with a young core that includes Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall.
  • Smith told reporters he is "eager to make things right" in New York and said the Jets are getting a better player than his Pro Bowl version in Seattle.
  • He returns after a difficult 2025 in Las Vegas, where he was sacked 55 times, threw a league-high 17 interceptions, and the Raiders finished 3–14.
  • Multiple outlets report Carson Wentz is now unlikely to sign as the Jets’ backup, and Andy Dalton has been floated as an alternative but remains under Panthers control.