Geno Smith may not be the kind of quarterback who makes a fan base dream big, but the New York Jets’ current reality leaves little room for luxury. For a team that knows how hard it can be to find even competent play under center, Smith comes off as a workable answer - maybe not exciting, but good enough to matter.
That’s the backdrop for Pro Football Focus’ latest quarterback rankings, where Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick placed Smith at No. 26.
The surprising part wasn’t just the number. It was how much weight they gave to the situation around him, especially the Raiders’ poor offensive line from last season, instead of leaning only on PFF’s own grades.
PFF also viewed the Jets’ 2025 offensive line favorably, ranking it No. 9 in pass-blocking and No. 15 in pressure rate allowed.
Smith’s placement came ahead of the Raiders’ Kirk Cousins, the Falcons’ Tua Tagovailoa, and the Titans’ Cam Ward. That’s a notable grouping, especially with Cousins and Smith both in the veteran, short-term category for teams trying to bridge to something else. The article also noted that No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza could end up replacing Cousins during the season.
The Jets, meanwhile, do not have a first-round quarterback sitting behind Smith, though there is growing buzz around fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik.
Tagovailoa, despite six seasons in Miami and a résumé that still carries real accomplishment, has dealt with injuries throughout his career. Still, PFF’s ranking suggests more confidence in Smith, and the Jets’ improved line may be part of that equation.
Ward’s inclusion adds another layer. Last year’s No. 1 pick landed third among the sophomore quarterbacks, behind the Saints’ Tyler Shough at No. 24 and the Giants’ Jaxson Dart at No.
- Even that setup raised eyebrows, because plenty of people around the Titans would probably take Ward over Smith without much hesitation.
There was also a nod to the Titans’ Robert Saleh hire, which Wasserman and Chadwick didn’t mention, though the piece suggested it could be bad news for Ward’s development.
The larger point is hard to miss: Smith is being treated as a stopgap, but one that could still deliver value. If the Jets get even a league-average season from him, that would count as a win. And a few years ago, few would have guessed that by 2026 Geno Smith might be sitting ahead of Kirk Cousins or Tua Tagovailoa on a quarterback list.
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