The New York Jets quarterback competition can begin in earnest now, as rookie passer Geno Smith has agreed to a four year, $5 million deal.
Smith, who was widely considered the top quarterback in the 2013 draft class, slipped all the way to the Jets in the second round. Had he gone in the first round as expected, he likely would have been guaranteed somewhere in the neighborhood of $12 million, according to ESPN.
Smith has let it be known he is intent on opening the 2013 campaign as the Jets starter, and said after signing on the dotted line that he has a "great shot" to do so. He created some controversy this offseason by turning down an invitation to attend Mark Sanchez's "Jets West" voluntary camp in southern California. Rumors have flown that the relationship between the two signal-callers is frosty, but both parties have tried to play down those tropes.
According to Jets head coach Rex Ryan, the change in system from West Virginia's shotgun operation to the West Coast offense run by the Jets will take some getting used to, so it is likely Sanchez has a leg up on the rookie.
"He came from a system that primarily was a shotgun system," Ryan said. "His steps, drop backs [and] his mechanics that way, footwork-wise, weren't dialed in the way they'll have to be at this level. It's all new to him. Sometimes, you really can't even notice them because when he's on, the guy is absolutely terrific. We knew it wasn't going to be an easy process, but I have confidence that, when we get to Cortland [for training camp], I think you're going to see the guy keep improving and improving."
Smith had a prolific senior season with the Mountaineers, uncorking 42 touchdown passes and just six interceptions the entire season while racking up 4,205 yards.
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