Jets Reasoning for Not Trading Geno Smith Could Come Back to Haunt Them

One has to question why the New York Jets didn't decide to move on from quarterback Geno Smith during the NFL trade deadline. 

I'm still of the belief that Smith hasn't played perfect football throughout the year, but he's been a lot better than most had anticipated entering the year. As the Jets get prepared to make some tough decisions over the next few months, finding a franchise quarterback is obviously at the top of the list. 

Unfortunately for the Jets, there's a scenario in which Smith isn't going to be with the organization next year, whether it be because he wants to go pursue other opportunities with a better team or because New York wants to get younger at the quarterback position.

Whatever the reason might be, it does feel somewhat safe to say that Smith doesn't really have much of a reason to be on this team at the moment. 

Even if the Jets want to ensure they have a veteran option to throw the football to some of their young players, wouldn't it still be better to get a second-round pick or whatever they could have gotten in return at the deadline? 

Clearly, the Jets didn't believe so, and we have to trust Darren Mougey that he made the right decision. Just because I and many others don't agree with it doesn't mean that it was the wrong move.

According to the latest, there were a couple of factors as to why that decision was made. One of them was also simply because the Jets could bring him back in 2027.

“Quarterback Geno Smith: Smith fit the expiring-contract criterion, but they never entertained the idea of moving him despite pre-deadline buzz with the Minnesota Vikings. The Jets don't have an experienced backup, so trading Smith would've been tantamount to surrendering the season and ending Glenn. The No. 2 is rookie Cade Klubnik, a fourth-round pick who has yet to take a snap. At 2-7, the season is basically lost, but a downgrade at quarterback would've hampered their ability to develop young players such as wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and tight ends Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq. At this point, player development is paramount. Smith, ranked 19th in QBR, can keep the offense operating at a functional level.

“Smith, who said he paid no attention to the speculation, also could fit into their 2027 plan as a stopgap starter/mentor for a highly drafted rookie,” Rich Cimini of ESPN wrote.

I wouldn't hate bringing back Smith in 2027. 

The last thing I think the Jets should do is overpay for a quarterback that they don't absolutely love or draft a quarterback in this upcoming class that isn't going to get the job done for them. 

If the Jets don't believe there's a franchise quarterback in this upcoming draft, they shouldn't draft one just for the sake of it. Obviously, with three first-round picks, if they keep all of them, the Jets have a tough decision to make in regards to that, as drafting a quarterback would probably make sense. 

However, it's also important to recognize that there are times when it's better just to go for the best player available, even if that results in the Jets not getting a quarterback this year.