The New York Jets have agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire the veteran quarterback in a trade. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first with the news of the trade.
Smith, 35, joins his third team in three years after a one-year stint with the Raiders. The veteran quarterback initially landed in Las Vegas from the Seattle Seahawks via a trade before signing a two-year, $75 million extension.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on March 6 that the Raiders had intended to release Smith at the start of the new league year on March 11, barring a trade. Instead of a release, Las Vegas recoups some draft capital in their agreement with the Jets. The trade will be finalized at the start of the new league year on March 11.
The Raiders owns the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are expected to draft Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
In his lone season with Las Vegas, Smith led the Raiders to a 2-13 record in 15 starts and led the league with 17 interceptions. His 3,025 passing yards and 19 touchdowns were his fewest in a season as a starter since 2014, his second year in the league.
Smith will get a shot at a second chance in New York for the 2026 season.
Geno Smith trade details
Here’s how the transaction that lands Smith back in New York looks for each team:
Jets receive:
- QB Geno Smith
- 2026 seventh-round pick
Raiders receive:
- 2026 sixth-round pick
The Raiders will also take on most of Smith’s contract, which was restructured before the trade, per Schefter. The Jets will pay Smith ‘just over (the) veteran minimum.’
For a player with more than seven years of NFL experience (Smith is entering Year 14), the veteran minimum is $1.3 million.
Jets QB depth chart
- Geno Smith
- Justin Fields
- Brady Cook
Smith is expected to be the Jets’ starting quarterback in 2026, re-joining the team that originally drafted him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The veteran quarterback last played for the Jets in 2016.
Justin Fields is expected to be released at the start of the new league year, ending a disastrous one-year stay for the 2021 first-round pick.