Geno Smith has been upgrade from Justin Fields for Jets -- except in win column - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A look at what's happening around the New York Jets:

1. QB comp: The Jets can look at the Kansas City Chiefs' sideline Sunday to remind themselves how much they've improved at quarterback. They will see Justin Fields, their former starter turned Patrick Mahomes understudy.

In 2024, the Jets brought in Fields in hopes to turn their fortunes around at quarterback, but they traded him to the Chiefs in March.

The Geno Smith-for-Fields decision has worked out nicely for the Jets, who found a competent «bridge» quarterback in the 36-year-old Smith.

By every objective measure, not to mention the eye test, Smith has outperformed the 2025 Fields. But there's one caveat; more on that in a bit.

This is a good time for a comparison because Smith already has played virtually the same number of snaps (494) as Fields did last season (501). Smith is far superior in QBR (59.7 to 39.2), completion percentage (69.0 to 62.7), passing yards (1,913 to 1,259) and touchdown passes (12 to 7).

Fields had only one interception (Smith has three), but he wasn't nearly as aggressive as Smith, who's averaging 7.7 air yards per attempt — a yard more than Fields. Fields had more rushing yards (383 to 46) but also more sacks (27 to 23). After some historically poor performances, Fields' mid-November benching surprised no one.

As for Smith, coach Aaron Glenn loves the way he's pushing the ball downfield, especially on play-action.

"[He's] really just finding his rhythm on who he is and what he does best," Glenn said of Smith, whose arrival via trade was a precursor to the Jets dealing Fields for a 2027 sixth-round pick.

The QB swap looks even better when viewed through a financial lens. The Jets acquired Smith for a late-round pick swap