Geno Smith is back with the New York Jets for a second stint.
The New York Jets acquired Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, bringing the veteran QB back to his old stomping grounds.
Smith began his NFL career with the Jets back in 2013.
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger was on "The Official Jets Podcast" and he got brutally honest about the Smith trade.
"Those three years in Seattle [2022-24], you look at the last year he was there, he was 10-7 ... you know he played winning football," Baldinger said. "He led the league in completion percentage one year [67.8 in 2022 when he was the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year]. Was basically a 70 percent completion quarterback and he showed good mobility.
"I was out there a couple of times [last season]. He was the leader. You know, he played really well last year. I don't know if any quarterback could have been successful. The offensive line fell apart. Lost their left tackle, lost their left guard. They were a disaster. ... It's low risk, it's high reward. It can be high reward."
Smith's best seasons in the NFL came with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 and 2023. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and won the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award.
But because Smith's lone season with the Raiders was a disaster, many people believe the NJets traded for a "washed" QB.
"I still have a ton of years left on my body to play this game and I want to continue to try and maximize it," Smith said, via ESPN. "And so I believe the Jets are getting a better player than I was in Seattle. I know that for a fact, in fact."
Smith led the league in interceptions last season with 17 and went just 2-13. The Raiders parted ways with him after just one season.
In his first stint with the Jets, Smith went 12-18 as a starter. He threw for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. It wasn't pretty.
However, Smith is older and wiser now and believes he's going to prove his critics in New York wrong.
"I just felt like I was back where I belonged, man. It felt special," Smith said. "When I was drafted there, my goal was to play my entire career for the Jets and one day retire as a Jet. And although it didn't go exactly as planned, somehow, some way we got back here and I'm eager to make things right if I can."
Smith enters next season with 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions in the NFL. His starting record is 42-56-0.
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