Geno Smith utterly disrespected in league-wide quarterback rankings

The New York Jets have had a lot of problems in 2026, whether that be poor coaching, horrendous special teams, or defensive woes. But one area where they haven't had many issues is at the quarterback position.

Geno Smith, despite coming off a horrid season in 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders, has been a pillar of stability for the Jets under center this year. Right now, he's on pace to have one of the best quarterbacking seasons for New York in franchise history, which is admittedly a low bar to clear.

Regardless, Smith seems to still be garnering disrespect around the league. In FanSided's latest quarterback rankings, experts and analysts who cover all 32 teams ranked the Jets' quarterback as the 26th-best signal-caller in the NFL.

Smith isn't perfect. Jets fans will be the first to tell you that. He can be hesitant to pull the trigger at times and will drop like a sack of potatoes at the first sign of pressure. But 26th? That's just disrespectful to one of the league's most efficient quarterbacks this season.

Geno Smith is better than the 26th-ranked quarterback in the NFL

Yes, the Jets are 2-7, and Smith has some level of culpability in that. But in terms of his individual play, he's been better than the likes of Michael Penix Jr., Tyler Shough, Bo Nix, and Baker Mayfield, who were all ranked above him.

So far in 2026, Smith's numbers are among the best in the NFL. He's 10th in total passing yards (2,078), seventh in passer rating (100.5), fifth in completion percentage (67.5%), and has a Pro Football Focus grade of 81.1, the ninth-best in the league.

Per PFF, he's also had 15 big-time throws to only six turnover-worthy plays, showing just how reliable the 36-year-old has been for the Jets in 2026. If the defense and special teams weren't as bad as they were, Smith could be quarterbacking an AFC Wild Card contender right now.

Now, FanSided's analysts did pay him some respect. He jumped up six spots from the preseason rankings, going from the 32nd-ranked passer to 26th. But still, it seems low.

The Jets aren't going anywhere in 2026; that much is abundantly clear from the team's first nine games. But Smith has been good enough that there is already chatter that he should be back for a second season in 2027, mentoring New York's future first-round draft choice.

Hopefully, when these rankings come around again at season's end, Smith will be putting the finishing touches on one of the better quarterback seasons in franchise history, and he'll get some of the respect he deserves.

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