The New York Jets entered the 2026 offseason with a glaring question: Who would lead them under center? After the Justin Fields experiment fizzled out, the Jets needed a steady hand, and they believe they’ve found it in Geno Smith.
Now, Smith might not be the elite quarterback of dreams at 35, especially coming off a tough season in Las Vegas. However, he represents a step up from last year’s struggles. Despite this addition, the Jets’ quarterback room still doesn’t inspire overwhelming confidence when stacked against the rest of the league.
Christopher Kline from FanSided took on the task of ranking NFL quarterback rooms post-free agency, and unsurprisingly, the Jets find themselves near the bottom of the list.
Jets’ Quarterback Room Ranked 29th
Only three teams rank below the Jets: the Raiders, now without Fernando Mendoza, the Steelers sans Aaron Rodgers, and the Browns, who feature Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel.
Kline notes, "New York will put more talent around him (Geno Smith) than Vegas did, to be clear, but Smith has always been a boom-or-bust quarterback on some level. He does not figure to age with the utmost grace in this league. Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe, meanwhile, are extremely mediocre backups."
Kline’s assessment of the Jets’ depth is spot-on. Brady Cook struggled last season, which isn’t shocking for an undrafted quarterback, and Zappe, with his nine career starts, is a journeyman at best.
A veteran backup seems inevitable for the Jets. They need one. Yet, if Smith stays healthy, they should navigate 2026 without too much turbulence.
Smith’s critics have valid points. He did lead the league in interceptions last season.
But even former Raiders head coach Pete Carroll acknowledged that not all the blame falls on Smith. The situation in Las Vegas was challenging for any quarterback.
Looking ahead, the Jets are likely to bolster their quarterback room soon. A seasoned backup is on the horizon, and perhaps they’ll gamble on a rookie in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s clear the Jets are eyeing 2027 as their year to solve the quarterback conundrum, armed with three first-round picks in what promises to be a talent-rich draft class.