The New York Jets have been far from a successful organization in recent years. From the Sam Darnold disaster, the Zach Wilson, and most recently Justin Fields, things have not gone well at the quarterback position, and by extension, the team.
Even Aaron Rodgers didn't work out with the Jets. Now, in the 2026 offseason, the Jets don't have a chance to land Fernando Mendoza, the top QB prospect, without trading the farm to move up to No. 1 overall with the Las Vegas Raiders.
When presented with that idea, of the Jets moving up for Mendoza, ESPN's Stephen A Smith on First Take had a strong, negative reaction in which he slammed the Jets organization/ He didn't hold back, making some brutal and creative comments on the team.
Jets blasted by Stephen A Smith amid QB questions
"If you're the New York Jets, what the hell do you have. You know what, you're straight garbage. Hot garbage. That's the bottom line," Smith said. "The Jets are equivalent of cheese and meats stuck in a suitcase... little 90 degree weather, the stench that emanates from that franchise... is that damn bad."
"The Jets are equivalent of cheese and meat stuck in a suitcase. ... Why should we subject [Fernando Mendoza] to that kind of imminent misery?"@stephenasmith on if the Jets should trade up for Fernando Mendoza 🏈 pic.twitter.com/nPQK5MxnvP
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 3, 2026
This is a brutal evisceration of the Jets from Smith. Simply calling the Jets "hot garbage" would've been more than enough to get the point across.
But to say the Jets are the NFL franchise that is the equivalent of meat and cheese in a suitcase in 90-degree weather is a brutally creative way to bash the Jets.
The Jets are a ways away from being a competent franchise. Not only on the field, but off it, the Jets have a lot of work to do.
More: Jets get shaky $13 million contract projection on injury-prone offensive guard
It's also not about simply seeing the team make the playoffs, but about the vibe around the franchise shifting. As Smith brutally noted, the Jets' current vibe is equivalent to cheese and meat stinking it up in a suitcase in hot weather.
With how poorly things have gone in recent years, especially in 2025, it's hard to completely deny that the Jets are in such a bad spot.
While calling them "hot garbage" and the equivalent of cheese and meat stuck in a suitcase on a hot day might be a step too far, it's hard to deny that the team is in such a bad spot.
More Jets news: