Fresh numbers suggest Geno Smith may be at his best when defenses try to challenge him one-on-one.
Outside Zone Football Analytics recently broke down the NFL quarterbacks who showed the biggest EPA per play swings in 2025 between man and zone coverage, and Smith stood out. His 0.34 EPA per play against man coverage was far stronger than his 0.05 mark versus zone, one of the largest gaps in the league.
That split matters for the Jets because it lines up neatly with Garrett Wilson’s own profile. New York’s top receiver has been especially dangerous against man coverage across his four NFL seasons. Since entering the league in 2022, Wilson has piled up 1,276 yards against man coverage, the ninth-most in the NFL.
That pairing gives the Jets a clear area to watch as the season unfolds. If Smith and Wilson can get on the same page, 2026 could turn into a big year for Wilson, especially if Smith performs the way the Jets think he can.
At 35, Smith looks like a quarterback who can help unlock Wilson’s deep game. Wilson has not yet played with a passer who throws the deep ball as well as Smith does.
Still, the expectation in New York doesn’t have to be anything grander than stability. Smith does not need to become a franchise-altering answer for the Jets. If he can settle things down and handle the basics, that would be enough for a bridge quarterback making less than $4 million.
And for a Jets offense that has arguably not gotten even that kind of steady play since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2015, that alone would carry real value.
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Jets Quarterback Situation Just Drew A Brutal National Verdict
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CBS Sports added to the noise by placing New Yorks quarterback group among the leagues weakest, with Cade Klubnik, Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook also in the mix. For a team that spent last season searching for answers, the verdict only sharpens the pressure on Glenn and the front office to prove the position can be more than a liability. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Earned A Surprising National Nod For Their Future
An ESPN roster-age study has given the Jets an unexpected bit of national optimism, slotting them among the NFLs youngest teams after a season in which the franchise has leaned hard into building for the future. The list points to a roster stocked with players under 25, and the most encouraging part for New York is that the youth is spread across premium spots, where developing talent can change the shape of a team faster than almost anything else.
Aaron Schatz singled out edge rusher David Bailey and offensive tackle Armand Membou as central pieces of that youth movement, with several young defensive backs also helping drive the turnaround. The one thing the ranking does not solve is the most important question in any rebuild: whether all that young talent can be organized around a true long-term answer under center, which leaves the Jets with plenty of promise and at least one major piece still to sort out. [Read more 🡒]