Jets oddly named huge free agency winners after 1 move

Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets needed a fresh face at quarterback after the disaster that was the 2025 season with Justin Fields.

And the Jets' path has taken them back to an old friend, Geno Smith.

After being with the Jets, Smith has bounced around the league, and last season, Geno's time with the Las Vegas Raiders wasn't pleasant, going 2-13.

Now, he lands back in New York with the Jets, as the franchise looks for a stopgap player before the 2027 draft.

And NFL.com's Judy Battista has named Geno and the Jets as big winners of free agency thus far.

"Geno Smith and the New York Jets: You CAN go home again," Battista wrote. "The 35-year-old has grown immensely as a leader and mentor, which the Jets badly need. He has played at a Pro Bowl level in his career, and he is still able to throw the ball to the perimeter, where Garrett Wilson awaits.

"They can win games with him while they look for the quarterback of the future. Smith was right: They wrote him off, and he didn’t write back."

More: Revisiting Maxx Crosby’s injury before Raiders backed out of trade with Ravens

Are Jets really winners of free agency?

I wouldn't say winners, but the Jets now do have a quarterback who has a higher floor than Fields. As Battista pointed out, Geno has been a Pro Bowler before, and he can win games on his own. 

So, from that standpoint, the Jets are in a "better" spot, but it's still not a great one to be in. Geno isn't going to lead the Jets to the playoffs, but he will, at least from New York's thinking, make them more competitive.

In truth, the move for Geno isn't a long-term solution. It is a one-year rental that the Jets hope will keep them afloat until the draft next season.

But as far as the Jets being winners? 

I'm not too sure about that.

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