NY Jets unknowingly helped facilitate rumored Geno Smith, Sam Darnold swap

Former NY Jets quarterbacks are at the center of the NFL offseason. Not only is the future of Aaron Rodgers a hot topic with the Jets moving on, but ex-Jets draft bust Sam Darnold is expected to be arguably the top quarterback on the open market this offseason.

Until Friday, it wasn’t entirely clear which team was the favorite to land the former USC star. Now, we have our answer — and the Jets played a part in making it happen.

The Las Vegas Raiders have acquired Geno Smith in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, with Vegas sending a third-round pick in return. Smith is now expected to be the Raiders' starter, with Seattle reportedly pivoting to Darnold as their top target.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero confirmed shortly after the trade that Darnold is considered the "leading contender" to be the Seahawks' next quarterback following Smith's departure. Seattle is looking to replace one former Jets quarterback with another, and they couldn't have done it without the Jets' help.

The NY Jets helped facilitate the Geno Smith trade and possible Sam Darnold signing

The Raiders were more than willing to part ways with a third-round pick to land Smith in Las Vegas, especially with multiple selections in that round. And once again, the Jets played a key role in making it happen.

That’s because the Raiders acquired one of those third-round picks from the Jets in the midseason trade that sent Davante Adams to Florham Park. Without that pick, the trade might not have happened.

In fact, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Raiders sent the No. 92 overall pick — the very pick they received in the Adams trade — to the Seahawks for Smith.

For those keeping track, the Jets played a role in a trade involving one former Jets quarterback, which set the stage for that team to replace him with another former Jets quarterback. And to top it off, the team making the move is led by a former Jets head coach, Pete Carroll.

In simpler terms, a former Jets head coach reunited with a former Jets quarterback, who now might be replaced by another former Jets quarterback — all because the Jets made a short-sighted trade just a few months ago.

Got it? Good.

The Seahawks reportedly entered contract negotiations with Smith this week, but after failing to reach an agreement, they decided to explore other options. Meanwhile, rumors from the NFL Combine suggested the Raiders were eager to land Smith in a trade, and they got their wish.

The Jets continue to dominate NFL headlines, even when they aren't the ones making the moves. Somehow their fingerprints are all over this wild quarterback carousel, proving once again that in the NFL, all roads seem to lead back to the Jets.

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