During nearly every offseason for the last several decades, the Jets have not been a threat to what the Patriots were trying to do, nor have they ever been considered a legitimate contender for the AFC East title. So whoever they sign or not is generally not New England's concern.
That is still the case this offseason, as they chose to move on from Justin Fields as their quarterback and traded for Geno Smith, while making only a few free-agent moves to drastically improve their roster through free agency.
It keeps them at the bottom of the division for the 2026 season, along with the Dolphins, but those within the Jets organization don't feel that way. And while that's not entirely surprising and they shouldn't be publicly bashing their own team, it does provide some funny material for Patriots fans to laugh at.
Geno Smith's return to the Jets has the team already eyeing the playoffs
The latest moment comes from head coach Aaron Glenn, who was asked during the Annual Owner's Meeting about Geno Smith and what he can do in his return to the Jets this season.
Other than simply stating that they're excited to have him back and have a veteran leading their offense again, Glenn suggested that Smith can "lead (them) to the promised land," presumably suggesting the Jets now have a shot at the playoffs or the Super Bowl.
It immediately garnered a lot of pushback from their immediate rivals, including Patriots fans, who can't even fathom the idea of Glenn being serious with his assesment. Smith did put together an impressive campaign with the Seahawks, even taking them to the playoffs, but his most recent stint with the Raiders was far from that.
Based on that, it doesn't feel far off to assume the same kind of production will come in his move to the Jets, especially since they haven't surrounded him with the kind of talent that would make much of a difference in his performance.
It's difficult to imagine that we'll see Smith return to his Seattle form and actually threaten the Bills or Patriots' chances of winning the division again. The 2026 schedule is projected to be among the most difficult in the league, and the Jets aren't going to have an easier time just because Smith is under center.
However, Glenn believes they will, so maybe for the Jets, that's all that matters.