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What Justin Fields trade means for Jets QB depth chart for Geno Smith, Brady Cook originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Jets, coming off a rough 2025 NFL season, had to make some major changes all across the roster. While finding defensive playmakers to stop their interception drought, the Jets also needed a new quarterback.
The Jets' first move this offseason was to trade for Geno Smith in a minor trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. But, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, the Jets are now trading Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs.
After this trade, sending Fields to the Chiefs, how does the Jets quarterback depth chart shake out? It's a new-look room with Smith, but there are a few others who will factor into the depth chart this upcoming season.
Jets QB depth chart after Justin Fields trade explained
Fields is headed to the Chiefs to be the backup to Patrick Mahomes in their new-look depth chart, and for the Jets, the depth chart does look a bit different than last year's.
The team's projected starter atop the depth chart is obviously Smith. The Jets acquired him from the Raiders, and while his 19-touchdown and 17-interception 2025 wasn't the best, his two Pro Bowl seasons with the Seattle Seahawks are worth trying to replicate.
With Smith the starter atop the depth chart, the team's backup quarterback options are, currently, not ideal. Brady Cook is the backup to Smith, with Bailey Zappe the third quarterback on the roster.
Cook struggled mightily last season in his chances to start for the Jets, as he went 0-4 with a 57.5% completion rate with 739 passing yards, two touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a rough 55.4 passer rating.
Zappe didn't play a snap in 2025, and in his three seasons in the NFL, he has a 76 passer rating. Not good enough to justify being a backup in the NFL.
More: Aaron Glenn predicted to add three QBs to NFL roster this offseason
Fans worried about the depth behind Smith shouldn't be, as the Jets plan to add at least one more veteran quarterback and even a rookie in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft class.
While it might not be a top prospect like Ty Simpson, the Jets do plan to address the backup quarterback spot with a rookie this offseason.
Carson Wentz has been strongly linked to the Jets this offseason, and he could be a backup to Smith. Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey have been predicted to add three quarterbacks this offseason, with Smith only being one-third of the QB additions planned for the Jets.
Smith, Cook, and Zappe won't be the final depth chart at quarterback for the Jets. Mougey and Glenn will likely add two more options this offseason, likely one rookie and one veteran.
More Jets news:
- Breece Hall breaks silence on franchise tag
- Jets deny Aaron Glenn was asleep at NFL Combine
- Geno Smith returning to Jets is ‘full circle’ moment for veteran QB
- Nahshon Wright agrees to $5.5 million deal with Jets in steal by Darren Mougey
- Jets get bad news as Jaguars don’t look poised to trade Brian Thomas Jr. despite trade rumors
- Jets traded for Geno Smith instead of signing him in free agency to avoid worst-case-scenario
- Jets predicted to draft David Bailey No. 2 overall after offseason spending
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