Jets and left guard Dylan Parham agree on deal to help protect Geno Smith
Former Raiders offensive lineman Dylan Parham takes the field at Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV. Credit: Getty Images/Ethan Miller
The Jets have a new quarterback and are bringing in one of his former offensive linemen to fill a major hole.
The return of Geno Smith is official. Shortly after the new league year opened on Wednesday, the Jets announced that they re-acquired Smith and a seventh-round pick this year from the Raiders for a sixth-rounder. Smith was with the Jets from 2013-16.
The Jets also came to terms with former Raiders starting left guard Dylan Parham on a two-year deal for $16 million, league sources said, reportedly only $7.5 million of which is guaranteed.
General manager Darren Mougey had to address the guard position after Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson reached deals with New England and Baltimore, respectively.
Additionally, the Jets agreed on a one-year deal with kicker Cade York and a new a one-year contract to keep backup offensive tackle Max Mitchell, according to a source.
The Jets also announced the acquisition of five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from Miami for a seventh-round pick, pending a physical.
Parham, 26, was a third-round pick of Las Vegas in 2022. He has started 63 of 64 games in his career, including 15 last year blocking for Smith. Parham has played all three interior offensive line positions, but he was primarily a left guard last season. He allowed six sacks in 552 pass block snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
It’s expected that Parham will slide into the starting left guard role that Simpson manned the past two seasons. Center Joe Tippmann slid over to right guard and played well last season after Vera-Tucker sustained a torn triceps during practice before Week 1.
With four of the top 44 selections in next month’s draft, the Jets could take a guard let him and Parham compete for the starting role.
Mitchell is a good depth piece on the Jets offensive line. He has played 45 games, including 17 starts, for the Jets since they drafted him in the fourth round in 2022.
York, a fourth-round pick of the Browns in 2022, could be Nick Folk’s replacement.
Folk moved on to Atlanta on a two-year contract after connecting on 28-of-29 field goal attempts and all 22 of his extra-point tries last season.
York hasn’t kicked in an NFL game since 2024 when he was with Washington and Cincinnati. He has converted 33-of-45 field goals and 51-of-54 extra points.
The kickers currently on the Jets roster are York and Lenny Krieg, who played in the German Football League. The Jets could bring in another veteran kicker to compete for the job.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
