Dylan Parham Addresses Departures at Guard; WR, RB, TE Await 2nd Wave of Developments in FA, Draft

Randy Lange

The position at the top of the Jets' offensive organizational flow chart has been filled with the trade for Geno Smith, but the rest of the O-chart, besides GDylan Parham, has mostly subtle changes after the first wave of the unrestricted free agency signing period that began last Wednesday has passed.

Smith comes back to the team that drafted him in Round 2 in 2013 and for which he played his first four pro seasons. And he comes back with an attitude that mirrors those upbeat words of Nick Folk last year andDemario Davisthis past week. When Smith arrived as a Raider last year, fans will remember his bold opening salvo: "I didn't come to Vegas to roll the dice. I came to run the table." In his second tenure wearing green and white, he made a less showy entrance, saying what returning to 1 Jets Drive meant to him:

"Just to have an opportunity to continue to play this game that I love so much, and to be part of that organization again, the organization that gave me a chance coming out of West Virginia and really believed in me. Although it didn't go exactly as planned, somehow, someway, we got back here. And I'm eager to make things right if I can."

Things went south in Vegas last season, and some but not all of that was on Smith's shoulders. But the three seasons before LV, in SEA, he showed as a Seahawk his growing professionalism, as well as some of those Mountaineer traits that prompted the Jets to initially invest in him. He was the starter for three winning Seattle teams, one a playoff outfit. He threw for 4,000 yards twice. His 70.4% accuracy in '24 hearkened back to his pinpoint senior season at WVU when he hit 71.2% of his throws. Over the past five seasons combined, he is No. 4 among all QBs in attempts, completions, yards and first downs.

Whether theGeno SmithReality Tour lasts beyond the 2026 season depends many things. Smith, of course, but also simpatico relationships with the subunits around him as well as with long-time QB molders in new OC Frank Reich and new QBs coach Bill Musgrave as well as another new coach with a familiar name, pass game coordinator Seth Ryan.

Smith for now is in a QBs room that includes Justin Fields, reported to be going to Kansas City in trade,Bailey Zappeon a reserve/future deal, andBrady Cook, with Tyrod Taylor in the free agent pool and Hendon Hooker an unsigned exclusive-rights FA. Many expect the Jets to draft a QB, next year if not this April, so the quarterback landscape still hasn't settled, but the Smith signing points the offense in a definite direction.

Elsewhere around the offense:

LineWith LG John Simpson leaving for his first team in Baltimore and Alijah Vera-Tucker signing with New England, the Jets ideally needed someone who combined the best traits of both. They may have found him in Dylan Parham, a four-year Raider who showed availability (64 games, 63 starts, 3,803 offensive snaps), versatility (43 starts at LG but also 17 at RG and 3 at C), and mobile guard size (6-3 ,285). The Jets would hope to fit him in seamlessly in the line of LTOlu Fashanu, CJosh Myers, RGJoe Tippmannand RTArmand Membouthat never came off the field last year.

Max Mitchell,Xavier NewmanandChukwuma Okoraforall re-signed to provide competition and depth.

Wide ReceiverThe position hasn't undergone much change yet. Only one departure so far: John Metchie III, after arriving in a trade with Philadelphia last October, has signed as a UFA with Carolina. Otherwise, Garrett Wilson is set to return from last year's midseason knee injury and join Adonai Mitchell and Isaiah Williams. Among others under contract areArian Smith,Irvin CharlesandQuentin Skinner.Josh ReynoldsandTyler Johnsonremain UFAs. Needless to say, adding a wideout (or maybe two?) in the draft is a real possibility.

Tight endThis small room remains tight.Mason Taylor, a first-rounder last year who missed the last four games with a neck injury but still led all Jets with 44 receptions, should be back at work again withJeremy Ruckertand the re-signed Jelani Woods. UFAStone Smartt, said to have bulked up from his 226-pound Jets program weight to 251 pounds during his offseason training, hasn't signed with any team yet.

Running backWe've left perhaps the most impactful skill group on the offense till last, since there is little change among the backs.Breece Hallhas been franchise-tagged as his reps and the Jets work on a long-term deal for the TB1 who led the Jets to a 10th-place tie with 123.3 rushing yards/game and to eight with 4.60 yards/carry.Braelon Allenshould team again with Hall after playing only the first four games before a season-ending knee injury at Miami, as shouldIsaiah Davisboth are third-year players. Timely FBAndrew Beckand kickoff-return kingKene Nwangwuhave both re-signed. Khalil Herbert is the only RB from last season who is still on the UFA market.