What can 35-year-old quarterback Geno Smith actually bring to the Jets on a 1-year, $3.3 million deal? More than most people think. And I’d argue the biggest impact won’t even show up on the stat sheet.

Jets wide receiver AD Mitchell was asked about Geno Smith in a press conference this week, and his answer said it all.

“The guy is just a true natural leader,” Mitchell told reporters. “He has this presence about him. It’s just what you want from a quarterback. That’s the best way to sum it up.”

The veteran presence New York desperately needs

Look, the Jets have a very young roster. Their age averages at 25.8 years, which means Smith has roughly a decade of NFL experience on the average player in that locker room. That matters. 

He’s already been a Jet. He’s already dealt with the New York media, the market, and the expectations that come with playing quarterback in that city. You can’t put a price tag on that kind of institutional knowledge and experience.

Everyone knows Geno Smith is not the Jets’ long-term future at quarterback. In fact it’s probably safe to say he’s not going to be in New York in 2027. But that’s fine. He can bring you average quarterback play on the field this year, and I think he’s a significantly better band-aid option than Justin Fields was. 

When you talk about the veteran experience and everything that comes with it, Smith checks every box Fields didn’t. They brought Justin Fields in to hopefully be the savior, Smith is being used as a toolkit. 

There are no unrealistic expectations here, either. This isn’t the Aaron Rodgers situation where the entire franchise’s hopes were pinned on one player, and the whole thing blew up. The bar is manageable. 

The knowledge and leadership Smith can provide to his teammates could be immeasurable.

What this means for Cade Klubnik and the Jets’ future

The Jets also have a young rookie quarterback in that room in Cade Klubnik, who could be the future. There is also the possibility he couldn’t be. I don’t know. 

But having a veteran like Smith ahead of him gives Klubnik someone to watch and learn from. How to be a Jet. How to manage the media. How to handle the expectations. How to play quarterback in the NFL at a professional level every single day.

Say what you want about Geno Smith, but he’s carved out a fairly decent career for himself. The man is still playing and starting at 35. That alone deserves some respect.

And look, I know it’s just one drive of a preseason game, but Smith looked really good the other night against Pittsburgh, especially after having some rough outings against the Buccaneers in joint practice. 

The Steelers actually played some starters on their defense, and Geno didn’t miss a single pass. He led a touchdown drive, and that was that. The dude clearly still has something in the tank, and to be quite honest I don’t think the Jets would roll with him if they didn’t believe he did. 

The bigger picture for New York

How consistent can Smith be during the regular season? What will Frank Reich’s offense look like? Both of those things are to be determined and at the end of the day we don’t know. But if Smith can just deliver average quarterback play, you combine that with what he’s able to do off the field for these guys in the locker room, and this second stint with the Jets could be a real success when we look back on it 3 or 4 years from now.

I’ll tell you this much. It’s way better than paying $20 million a year for Justin Fields. And it is way better than bringing in a future Hall of Famer and having all that expectation, just for it to come kick you in the face and send you into further despair. 

I think we should be excited about Geno Smith with the Jets this second time around. Will they be a winning ball club in 2026? I highly doubt it, but this is all about the future and what Smith can propel the Jets into 2-3 years down the line. 

That is a big deal when you look at the young pieces that have been brought in to bring this franchise back into relevancy.