Unfortunately, I think Geno Smith will be back next year for a few reasons. He will only be making $1.5 million in 2016. I highly doubt you will be able to find a backup QB any better than Geno willing to take that little $. The Jets need every dime they can save for other positions. The only way to save more is to cut Geno and have Petty and a mid-round rookie as the backups. That is dangerous.
While no one in their right mind would have Geno as their starter, I doubt they are ready to have Petty as the main backup yet. The Jets are a team that may have to rely on a backup for a game or 2 to stay in the playoff hunt. If we were the Browns it wouldn't matter as much because the backup would just be riding out your losing season. Then again, maybe Petty is as good as Geno at this point. The only advantage Geno has is significant experience as an NFL starter. One could argue that both would go out and create a turnover festival.
The only reason I can see Geno getting cut is if they think the stink associated with him isn't worth keeping him around at any value. This may be true.
I'd rather have Geno gone just so we can wash the smell off of this team, but in the end I think he'll end up staying.
He's cheap, young, has a year in the system, and even though nobody wants to admit it, would be among the better backup Qbs in the league. Plus we invested a 2nd rounder in him so you might as well let it play out at this point. Fitzpatrick is not a lock to stay healthy all year at this point in his career, and Petty probably isn't ready to be thrown into the fire.
Plus then we'd get another year of Mack's comments "yeah, but if Geno was starting......"