Geno Smith Reportedly Traded to Jets from Raiders, Full Details on NFL Draft Pick Swap

The New York Jets are acquiring quarterback Geno Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

"Complete full circle moment back to where it all began," Smith told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "I'm excited to connect with my new teammates and coaches and everyone in the building as well as build a new relationship with the fan base and community."

The 35-year-old Smith spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders after they acquired the veteran from the Seattle Seahawks for a 2025 third-round draft pick. He then signed a two-year, $75 million contract extension with the Silver and Black.

The deal did not work out. Smith finished 35th in quarterback rating out of 42 qualifiers, per Pro Football Reference, as the Raiders struggled to a 3-14 season. In 15 starts, Smith completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 3,025 yards (6.8 yards per attempt), 19 touchdowns and an NFL-high 17 interceptions last season.

The Raiders' struggling offensive line was a culprit. Smith took 55 sacks. And despite having a talented rookie running back in Ashton Jeanty, the run game didn't fare well with an NFL-low 3.6 yards per carry.

The Raiders ended up with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. With there being an obvious top pick in Heisman Trophy winner, Indiana quarterback and national champion Fernando Mendoza, it made sense for the Raiders to start fresh.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Friday, March 6 that the Raiders planned to release Smith at the beginning of the new league year barring a trade. However, they were able to get something in return with the Jets offering up a draft pick.

Smith has had an eventful career to say the least. The Jets selected him with a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft. He started in New York for two seasons and threw for 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. The Jets decided to go in a different direction for the 2015 season and placed Ryan Fitzpatrick in at QB1.

Smith served as a backup quarterback for the Jets, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks from 2015-2021. He then got the call to be QB1 in Seattle after the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos and Smith beat Drew Lock for the starter's job.

The former West Virginia star authored one of the greatest comeback seasons you'll ever see in 2022, leading the NFL with a 69.8 percent completion rate while throwing for 30 touchdowns (to 11 interceptions) and 4,282 yards (7.5 yards per attempt). The Seahawks were largely projected to be one of the NFL's worst teams, but they went 9-8 and qualified for the playoffs.

Smith earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022 and 2023 and ultimately started in Seattle three seasons, completing 68.5 percent of his passes for 12,226 yards (7.4 yards per attempt), 71 touchdowns and 35 interceptions.

Smith's career has now come full circle as he returns to the place where he started his NFL tenure 13 years ago.

The Jets were in the market for a quarterback after essentially ending the brief Justin Fields era during last season with a pair of benchings.

Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Jets to be their starting quarterback last season, ended the year as QB3. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reported that the Jets were expected to part ways with Fields.

The Jets need a lot of help on both sides of the ball as they continue a massive rebuild that got off to a rough start with a 3-14 season.

Smith isn't the long-term answer at quarterback, but he can at least provide some stability and improvement at the position.

New York will presumably look for a long-term solution at quarterback in 2027, when the team holds three first-round draft picks (their own plus those of the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys thanks to the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades, respectively).