Full disclosure: As the Jets floundered during the offseason in search of a viable starting quarterback for 2026, the thought of Geno Smith 2.0 in Florham Park never felt ideal.

Memories of Smith’s calamitous and controversial first run with the Jets, his sulking nature and immaturity that led to that ill-fated locker room TKO were too prominent.

With time, along with watching him operate proficiently in training camp, looking, speaking and acting like the leader he never was when he was here the first time and listening to his head coach and teammates speak positively about him, Smith deserves the benefit of the doubt here.

The Jets reality at quarterback is this: They didn’t have a lot of options in the offseason with the quarterback position in the NFL about as deep as one of those kiddie pools in the neighborhood park, and at least Smith brings with him the ability to actually pass the football, push it down the field.