The New York Jets have plenty to sort out, but Geno Smith has quietly become one of the more interesting names in the mix.
For a team sitting at 2-6, the idea of moving a 36-year-old quarterback on an expiring deal is at least worth kicking around. Smith is playing on a restructured one-year, $3.3 million contract, and that kind of setup naturally raises the question of whether the Jets should try to turn him into something useful before the deadline. It would also give the team a chance to see more of a young quarterback like Cade Klubnik.
That possibility has now been tied to the Minnesota Vikings, a team that has its own issues despite a 6-1 record. Smith was recently floated as a trade option there, and the logic is pretty straightforward: Minnesota doesn’t need him to arrive and fix everything, but he could still be a real upgrade.
“People forget that Geno Smith is playing out of his mind while on an expiring contract with the New York Jets. It’s certainly possible they’ll look to extend him after the season thanks to a breakout year, but the Jets are also 2-6.
“They’re not going anywhere this season, Smith is 36 years old, and the Jets have three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, meaning his replacement could be drafted in April. Plus, they also have fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik, who the front office may be eager to evaluate, especially if they can get a solid Day 3 pick for selling high on Smith,” Andrew Buller-Russ wrote.
From Minnesota’s side, the appeal is obvious even if Smith wouldn’t be asked to walk in and rescue the offense by himself. If he keeps producing the way he has in New York, he would give the Vikings a much better option than what they’ve had.
Smith has thrown 12 touchdowns against three interceptions, has 1,913 passing yards, and is completing 69% of his passes.
In Other News...
Vikings Are Wasting A Defense That Should Change Everything
The Vikings keep showing the same frustrating split: a defense good enough to change the shape of the season, and an offense that keeps making that harder than it should be. In Week 8, Minnesotas defense again did its part against Detroit, limiting a quality opponent and reinforcing the idea that this unit has become one of the leagues best at squeezing out possessions and forcing teams into uncomfortable football.
What makes it sting is how little help the defense is getting from the other side of the ball. Minnesotas offense has struggled to stay on schedule and finish drives, leaving the Vikings stuck in a familiar place where elite defensive play is being asked to cover for too much. For a team with a defense this strong, thats the kind of imbalance that can define a season if it doesnt get corrected soon. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings May Be Mishandling Ivan Pace Jr At The Worst Time
Ivan Pace Jr. has remained a familiar part of the Vikings' game-day mix this season, but mostly on special teams, even as the defense has settled into its current linebacker rotation. Through seven games, his role on defense has been limited, which stands out for a player who flashed enough as a rookie to make you wonder whether Minnesota should be doing more with him right now.
The timing matters because Pace is on a one-year contract, and the Vikings do not appear set up to make a long-term commitment at linebacker with other options already entrenched in starting spots. If Minnesota is going to consider moving him, giving him a bigger defensive platform would help clarify what kind of value he might have around the league, and the next stretch of games could determine whether he stays buried in a depth role or gets a real chance to raise his stock. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings History Still Turns On One Franchise Defining In-Season Trade
The Vikings are still sitting at 6-1 and on top of the NFC North even after a recent loss to the Lions, but the franchises history keeps circling back to one move that helped define its identity. In ESPNs look at the biggest in-season trade in team history, Jim Marshalls arrival in 1961 stands out as the kind of transaction that shaped far more than a roster spot.
Marshall went on to become one of the most durable and respected players in franchise history, setting an NFL record for consecutive games played and serving as a longtime captain. His number is retired by the Vikings, a reminder that some trades are remembered less for the moment they happened than for the standard they helped establish. [Read more 🡒]