December 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws the ball during the third quarter against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Thirteen years after drafting Geno Smith, the Jets haven’t found a clear solution to their quarterback problem and are bringing the 35-year-old back to New York for another opportunity.
The Raiders and Jets reportedly agreed to a deal Tuesday that would send Smith back to his original NFL team in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.
The Jets will also receive a seventh-round pick (No. 2019 overall) along with Smith, who was awaiting release from the Raiders before the league year begins Wednesday.
Smith, 35, has reportedly agreed to renegotiate his contract with a chance to return to the Jets. ESPN reported that the Raiders are paying most of the remaining tab, limiting New York’s financial commitment to just over the league minimum for a veteran player.
The Jets selected Smith out of West Virginia in the second round (39th overall) of the 2013 draft. He played his first four seasons with the Jets, completing 57.9% of his passes for 5,962 yards and 28 touchdowns in 33 games (30 starts) from 2013-16.
Las Vegas is expected to use Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as its top pick in next month’s draft.
The Raiders were scheduled to hit the books on March 13, so there was an emergency to trade or release Smith with $8 million guaranteed on his contract.
Smith threw a league-worst 17 interceptions in 15 starts last season and completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Raiders went 2-13 in games he started, and Smith was sacked a league-high 55 times.
Smith completed 65.2% of his passes for 22,168 yards and 124 TDs, including 89 interceptions, in 109 regular season games (98 starts) with the Jets, New York Giants (2017), Los Angeles Chargers (2018), Seattle Seahawks (2020-24) and Raiders.
His only playoff appearance came in 2022 with the Seahawks, who lost 41-23 to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card Game. Smith was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year that season and made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023.
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