Stunning Reunion: Former Jets QB Could Make Surprise Return as Rodger’s Replacement
The New York Jets are likely prepping the hunt for yet another starting quarterback this offseason, and the franchise may decide to revisit a player who didn’t work out the first time around.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is on the outs with the organization and could end up retired or released by next March. In either of those scenarios, each of which are arguably more likely than Rodgers returning as the team’s starter in 2025 for his age-42 campaign, the Jets will have two options to find a QB: turn to free agency or the NFL draft.
However, the 2025 QB class is somewhere between weak and mediocre; and were the draft held today, the Jets would select No. 7 overall. Other QB-needy teams could get desperate and reach for all of the viable first-round prospects with picks ahead of New York’s, and/or the Jets may not find any of the signal-callers remaining worthy of the seventh selection.
As such, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report predicted on Wednesday, Nov. 27, that the Jets will reunite with Sam Darnold — who they picked No. 3 in the 2018 draft — come the offseason. However, he added the twist that New York will also bring back former second-round pick Geno Smith.
“I’ve got Gang Green bringing back two former starters who have since excelled in new settings and pitting them against each other on prove-it contracts,” Gagnon wrote. “It seems wacky but it’s very Jets, and it’s not a terrible strategy when you might not have great options in the draft and want to bolster your odds of hitting the jackpot.”
Darnold started 38 games for New York between 2018-20, earning a record of 13-25. He finished that stretch with 8.097 yards, 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions, per Pro Football Reference.
Smith played for the Jets for four years from 2013-16, earning a record of 12-18 as the starter. He threw for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.
Smith has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the past two seasons as the starting QB for the Seattle Seahawks but represents a nearly $40 million salary cap hit in the final year of his current contract in 2025.
Meanwhile, Darnold is having a career year as the starter for the Minnesota Vikings and will hit unrestricted free agency in March.
