NEW YORK -- The New York Jets have added another name to their quarterback mix. It's a big one.
Former West Virginia star Geno Smith finally came off the board on Friday night, selected by the Jets with the 39th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
It's a seismic move for the franchise, which certainly appears ready to move on from Mark Sanchez, the quarterback who helped lead the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010.
It's been a rocky road for Sanchez in the years since, however. His struggles in the past two seasons (52 turnovers combined) led the Jets to look elsewhere at the position under new general manager John Idzik.
Enter Smith, who was believed to be the top quarterback on the board during the pre-draft process. He never left the green room Thursday night. EJ Manuel of Florida State was the only quarterback off the board after the first day, leading to a report Smith would not attend the second round Friday.
Smith was at Radio City Music Hall when his name was called, however. His walk toward NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell represented the end of a long wait and the beginning of a new era for the Jets.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
