NY Jets reportedly look for backup to Geno Smith with Justin Fields expected to leave

According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, the New York Jets are eyeing Carson Wentz to serve as backup for Geno Smith in the 2026 NFL season. All signs indicate the “Justin Fields experiment” has come to an end in East Rutherford, as the Gang Green searches for help elsewhere.

Coming off a disappointing campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith is back in New York—actually, New Jersey—where he started his NFL journey back in 2013. Though excited to have him back in town, the Jets know Smith’s game brings inconsistency with it, and thus acquiring Wentz could help give the team a cushion in case all else fails.

Still, Wentz only appeared in five games in 2025, in which he didn’t exactly play lights-out. Needless to say, a quarterback tandem of Smith and Wentz would mean New York remains filled with uncertainty in 2026. The 2026 NFL Draft has yet to take place, but it’s no wonder why “J-E-T-S” fans are already eyeing the 2027 class, which could have Arch Manning leading the way.

Justin Fields could leave NY Jets

“Justin Fields remains under contract, but that likely will change,” as reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN. Following a scarily inconsistent performance in 2025, the former 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is trending to search for a new home. It would be the fourth time the quarterback hits the real estate business in his six-year career.

Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Jets, via Spotrac, which runs through the 2026 NFL season. However, New York may not sit around waiting for his deal to expire. Instead, Jets general manager Darren Mougey may take action into his own hands.

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NY Jets’ cap space situation and what comes next: How much flexibility do they have in 2026?

Jets face options when it comes to Fields

If Fields won’t be taken into account by New York, it better figure out a way to escape the quarterback’s $23 million cap hit in 2026. In order to do so, the Jets have different options at their disposal. Most likely, any decision will have to wait until June 1st, when the NFL’s new league year begins.

If the Jets release Fields prior to that date, they would take on $22 million on dead cap. A pre 6/1 trade would save New York $11 million, but it would still take on $12 million in dead cap in 2026. Moreover, finding a suitable trade partner for Fields might be unlikely.

Better options for the Jets and Fields

Thus, the more likely options for the Jets are as follows. On the first hand, they could designate Fields as a June 1st release—or simply release him after that date—which would take on a $13 million dead cap for 2026 and a $9 million hit for 2027. It’s a higher price to pay than a trade, but it’s a far easier decision to pull off.

If the Jets trade Fields after June 1st, then it’d be the best solution. New York would save $20 million as it’d take on $3 million in 2026 and $9 million in 2027 in dead cap. Knowing how much money a trade would save the Jets means any team willing to do business with them will likely lowball them, though.