New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) warms up during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.
Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
The return of Geno Smith to the New York Jets puts the AFC East franchise in a better position to win games, a notion that former NFL star running back Maurice Jones-Drew agrees with.
The three-time Pro Bowler Jones-Drew, who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Oakland Raiders during his time in the league, had great things to say about Smith amid the Jets' joint practice on Wednesday with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“A lot better than what they had last year,” Jones-Drew said about what he saw in Smith during the practice (via Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network).
“I think Geno made some terrific throws. It's not as consistent as I thought he would be, but again, that's your learner, new office, run, new office, new wide receivers. That's going to come with it. But I will tell you what that throw to Garrett Wilson with guys in his face, 15 and 20 yards, we didn't get out of his break. That was probably the throw of the day.”
Now 35 years old, Smith is also looking to be a much better quarterback for the Jets than when he was during his first stint with the team. Selected by the Jets in the second round (39th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of the West Virginia Mountaineers football program, Smith went 12-18 in his first four seasons with New York, passing for 5,962 yards and 28 touchdowns against 36 interceptions.
Smith has since played for the Los Angeles Chargers and seemingly experienced a career renaissance with the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he became a two-time Pro Bowler. Last season, he suited up for the Las Vegas Raiders, and that did not turn out well for both sides, but he's got another opportunity to shine once again as a starter for one of his former teams.