Geno Smith was a big problem for the New York Jets and it has yet to be determined if he will get a chance to be part of the solution. The Jets are currently working through their head coach and general manager search before making a decision on player personnel, but Smith has lost two people in his corner which does not bode well for his future with the franchise. With a top ten draft pick in hand, are the Jets eyeing a jump up for either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota?
Smith continues to voice his desire to return to the Jets with a chance to be the team's starting quarterback in 2015. Smith admits that he certainly did not play good football throughout most of 2014 and 2013 really which puts his career in jeopardy as the team undergoes a number of front office and coaching changes.
"I see myself being the quarterback here for a long time," Smith said, via the New York Post. "I see myself helping this team turn things around. Obviously, I'm a part of the reason why we are in this position, so I'd love to be a part of the solution."
It has yet to be determined where Smith fits in to the overall long-term plan of the Jets, but the team will certainly be undergoing quarterback adjustments one way or another. Michael Vick is not expected to return as his contract expires in free agency. The market for Smith is slim to none meaning any trade of the second-year pro will likely be denied. That leaves the draft to possibly be the best option for the Jets moving forward.
The Post notes that New York could be frontrunners to trade up for either Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston. Most mock drafts have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sticking with the No. 1 overall pick and grabbing Mariota meaning the race is on for Winston. The Jets would have to likely have to give up a good deal in order to grab Winston, so determining just how committed they are to Smith will have to happen in a hurry.
NorthJersey.com reports that Ryan getting fired is a bad sign for Smith. The head coach was a big player in the quarterback's corner and now New York will likely either draft a quarterback like Winston or sign a veteran as a stop-gap option. Smith understands that losing Ryan is not a good sign for him in the long-term.
"All I can do is continue to improve," Smith said, via NorthJersey.com. "I don't know what someone else's opinion on me will be, but I think I have continued to improve and I have shown enough, yes. I believe in myself. I have faith in myself and confidence that I can be a starter in this league, but it comes down to me being more consistent, obviously, [and] doing a lot better of a job down the stretch of games and winning games. So, that is my focus, be consistent and win more games."
