The New York Jets know who they want to back up Geno Smith.
The New York Jets acquired Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday.
Smith will start for the Jets next season at QB.
But who will be Smith's backup? According to Connor Hughes of SNY, the Jets want a former Pro Bowler.
Who? Carson Wentz.
New Jets OC Frank Reich wants Wentz on the team. Reich coached Wentz on the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts.
Wentz used to be one of the best QBs in the NFL with the Eagles before tearing his ACL. The one-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion probably would have won MVP in 2017 had he not gotten hurt.
Wentz has 23,626 passing yards and 159 passing touchdowns in the NFL. He played for the Minnesota Vikings last season.
"Wentz, two sources told SNY, is believed to be Reich’s preferred option," Hughes wrote. "The two have a longstanding relationship dating back to Reich’s time as Wentz’s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2016-17. Wentz’s best season came under Reich in Year 2, when he went 11-2 and threw for 3,296 yards with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. An MVP frontrunner, Wentz tore his ACL against the Rams in Week 13.
"Reich brought Wentz to Indianapolis in 2021. There, the quarterback went 9-8 as a starter, completing 62.4 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. There was a belief the relationship between the two soured during that season, with the Colts deciding to move on from him after the year. Two sources confirmed the resentment was not between coach and quarterback, but between the player and upper management/ownership. 'No one loves Wentz more than Frank,' a third source told SNY. While Reich may want Wentz, he’s not the only one. The 33-year-old, who went 2-3 as a starter with the Vikings last season, has options outside the Jets."
The Jets started three QBs in 2025: Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook. The three QBs combined for 2,777 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes.
New York hasn't decided whether it will keep or cut Fields, who is owed $10 million guaranteed by the Jets next season. The salary-cap savings for cutting him would be only $1 million against a $22 million dead-cap charge.
The Jets' offense was a walking disaster in 2025. They were 29th in the NFL in points per game and 32nd in passing yards.
New York has the second pick in this year's draft.
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