Mike Tannenbaum sees reason for Jets hope after promising offseason
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The Jets may reach cruising altitude in 2026 despite recent dramatic accusations of quarterback Geno Smith battering his ex-girlfriend, former general manager Mike Tannenbaum says.
“They’re in the information-gathering stage, and we’ll see what happens, and he’s been a good player for a long time,” Tannenbaum told The Post.
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“We’ll see what happens with the process, but I thought they’ve had a very good offseason,” he added while at the “Big Daddy” Celebrity Golf Classic at Huntington Country Club on Long Island.
Smith’s ex-girlfriend alleged on a 911 call that he “beat me up” at a house in Davie, Fla, where police responded earlier in June and are still actively investigating the incident.
The Gang Green GM from 2006 to 2012 is confident in the Jets also doing “thorough” due diligence, from the front office to coaches and security, to “let the process take care of itself.”
Should the veteran be cleared of wrongdoing, Tannenbaum predicts Smith will be a weapon on the offense.
“I think when you look at how well he’s played last year, notwithstanding, he could come in and play certainly at a good level,” said the front office executive turned ESPN insider.
Smith threw for 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns with Las Vegas in 2025 before being traded to the Jets in March, where he started his career from 2013 to 2016.
Tannenbaum wouldn’t put numbers on things, but is optimistic the team’s next campaign could be much more satisfactory than the Jets’ dismal 3-14 showing last season.
“I think they’re going the right direction,” he said, praising the “outstanding” offensive line with tackles Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu.
“Show me your quarterback, I’ll show you a good offensive line. To me, it always starts there,” he said.
He’s also a fan of how the Jets have drafted, saying “they’re building it the smart way long term.”
“To have three first-round picks, arguably two years in a row, that is really, really rare,” Tannenbaum said.
“I think they brought back the right types of guys, like the Demario Davises of the world,” he added of the 37-year-old linebacker readying for his third stint with the Jets.
Mixing “great leaders” like Davis with “good young talent, guys like Garrett Wilson” is the recipe to get the Jets airborne finally, Tannenbaum believes.
“It doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “And sometimes you have to be patient.”