The New York Jets may not be done tinkering with their quarterback room, even with Geno Smith seemingly locked in as the starter for the full season.
Smith gives the Jets stability at the top, but the backup picture still looks unsettled. Cade Klubnik and Bailey Zappe are already in the mix, and there had been a sense that New York might simply ride with what it has. Still, the idea of adding another arm has not gone away.
That’s the thinking behind a recent trade proposal that would send Aidan O’Connell to the Jets as insurance behind Smith. O’Connell would give New York a veteran option who could step in if Smith misses time, and he has actual starting experience to lean on.
“While Geno Smith has already etched himself as the starting quarterback, the backup battle remains up for grabs going into training camp. The competition has garnered the majority of the attention among fans, with fourth-round selection Cade Klubnik entering the mix; however, neither he nor Bailey Zappe has stood out in the offseason programs…
“That’s where Aidan O’Connell comes in. In his three years with the Las Vegas Raiders, O’Connell started 17 games, completing 62% of his passes for 3,932 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Even though the 27-year-old posted a 7-10 record as a starter, the Raiders ultimately signaled that O’Connell wasn’t a part of their future with the additions of Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza, the first overall selection in the 2026 draft,” Efstathios Savvidis wrote.
O’Connell would bring a different level of experience to the room, and there’s no question a veteran presence has value. But the Jets also already have multiple options there, so the real question is whether they feel strong enough about their chances next season to justify adding another quarterback in case Smith goes down.
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