While most of the talk surrounding the New York Jets has been about Ryan Fitzpatrick and how much it will cost the team to retain their quarterback who had a breakout year in 2015, question marks still hang over the head of Geno Smith. The quarterback entered 2015 believing that he was going to be the starter, but a training camp incident that left him with a broken jaw opened the door for Fitzpatrick and the Jets never looked back. While many assumed Smith had fallen out of favor with the franchise, the front office is now talking up his talent, but is it because they want a trade?
When discussing the state of the New York Jets, owner Woody Johnson noted that the team had plenty of faith that Smith has all of the talent to be successful in the NFL, but he has to want it himself. The latest talkings of Smith continue to draw into question what the franchise intends to do with the quarterback especially if Fitzpatrick does re-sign. While Smith is hopeful he still has a chance to be a starter for the team, his future appears to be elsewhere sooner rather than later.
"That's up to the eye of the beholder, but he has all the skills," Johnson said, via NJ.com. "It's a question of what his desire is, and from what the coaches told me and what I've seen myself, I think he's matured a lot. He knows he's a professional. He has the ability to do it, if he sticks with it."
According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, Fitzpatrick is the future of the Jets along with potentially a late-round draft pick. The team is confident they can re-sign the veteran quarterback and the only way Smith really has a future in New York is if for some reason Fitzpatrick heads elsewhere in 2016. The bigger question is whether to trade or release Smith in the offseason.
It seemed that Smith had no trade value whatsoever for the Jets. The New York Post reports there could be slight interest given the weakness of the draft class this season. ESPN's Todd McShay reports that no one appears ready to carry a franchise and start Week 1 which could help Smith. Is Smith elite? No, but he might be considered a better option than Paxton Lynch or Jared Goff. Smith would likely come very cheap and a change of scenery could bring out the best in him.
If Fitzpatrick returns and Smith leaves, the Jets need a future option on the roster. The jury is still out as to whether or not that is Bryce Petty. According to NJ.com, the Jets talked to several prospects at the Senior Bowl. Carson Wentz, Jake Coker, Dak Prescott and Kevin Hogan all got attention from team officials. They would be options in the fourth round or later in the NFL Draft and could develop into a strong talent for New York.