Taking a look at who could be the Jets’ starting QB in 2026

FLORHAM PARK, NJ — Joe Namath performed his final sport for the New York Jets precisely 50 years in the past. Since then, the group has skilled various levels of quarterback instability.

But maybe nothing fairly like the current.

The Jets are caught in the publishAaron Rodgers/pre-(insert thriller identify) period, which noticed three quarterbacks begin at least 4 video games a piece final season — tied for the most by any group in a single season in NFL historical past.

They could have a new set of quarterbacks in 2026, and the seats at the desk are anticipated to begin filling up after free agent negotiation begins Monday (midday ET). The commerce interval is ongoing, however offers will not grow to be official till Wednesday at 4 pm ET, the begin of the new league 12 months.

The Jets hope to deal with their short-term wants by buying a bridge quarterback (or two), saving the long run for subsequent month’s draft — or possibly subsequent 12 months’s draft.

Some followers need them to level on 2026, ready for Arch Manning, Dante Moore & Co. in the 2027 draft, however coach Aaron Glenn and basic supervisor Darren Mougey must win video games after final season’s 3-14 mess.

They won’t survive a “March for Arch,” so it is crucial they select the proper veteran out of a mediocre group of choices and determine whether or not Ty Simpson — extensively thought to be the draft’s greatest quarterback prospect not named Fernando Mendoza — is price New York’s second (sixteenth general) or third (thirty third) decide.

It’s not overstating it to say these judgments will affect the franchise for a number of years to come back. What makes it more difficult is that the Jets, who have not despatched a quarterback to the Pro Bowl since Brett Favre in 2008, aren’t precisely a sizzling vacation spot.

“You’re going into the Black Hole,” a longtime govt personnel mentioned.

The distinctive factor about this 12 months’s veteran market is that a handful of longtime starters are anticipated to be wage cap casualties and can be obtainable for the minimal wage ($1.3 million) as a result of they’re nonetheless owed large ensures from their soon-to-be-former groups. Ah, sure, the fantastic thing about offset language in contracts.

Unless they signal Malik Willisan unrestricted free agent anticipated to make at least $20 million per 12 months, the Jets in all probability will not must make a monetary splurge for a quarterback. Remember, they owe $10 million assured to Justin Fieldswho will go away a $22 million lifeless cap cost in the possible occasion of his launch.

So the obvious plan is to seek out a veteran placeholder and reevaluate in 2027, once they can use their treasure chest of draft picks (three first-rounders) to place themselves for a quarterback.

“If it were me having five first-round picks over the next two years, I wouldn’t be in a rush to [draft] a quarterback this year, just because you have so much flexibility in this year’s draft,” ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid mentioned. “I believe this year they just need to get those pillar pieces, those blue-chip-type players that they need to just supplement the roster that they have right now.”

Reid believes New York, with 4 picks in the prime 44, ought to fill wants apart from quarterback and “prepare for dropping a young quarterback in the situation in 2027.”

Mougey mentioned he and Glenn have each day discussions with offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, each new hires, on the quarterback plan. The plan should be nuanced as a result of it is a multilayered problem. You’re speaking about free brokers, gamers who could be minimize and gamers who could be traded.

“I do feel like there’s some good options out there,” Mougey mentioned.

Let’s look at who would possibly be obtainable to the Jets:

Free brokers

Carson Wentz, Jimmy Garoppolo, Marcus Mariota, Gardner MinshewWillis

It’s not a very enticing group. Willis is the star attraction as a result of he performed nicely in his cameo for the Green Bay Packers — 46 dropbacks that can end result in life-changing wealth. After doling out $30 million in ensures final 12 months for Fields, who flopped, the Jets would possibly wish to keep away from betting huge on an unknown two years in a row.

Wentz, recovering from surgical procedure on his left shoulder after going 2-3 as the Minnesota Vikings‘ starter, is on the listing due to his background with Reich — two years with the Philadelphia Eagles and one 12 months for the Indianapolis Colts. Wentz is 33 and has gone from MVP candidate (2017) to NFL journeyman, however he has performed his greatest ball with Reich at his facet and it would not price that a lot. That makes him the almost certainly choice out of this group.

Reported cap cuts

Kyle Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Gene Smith, Kirk Cousins

Smith, who had a tough go along with the Jets from 2013 to 2016, reinvented himself with the Seattle Seahawks. His profession nosedived final season with the Las Vegas Raiders — a league-leading 17 interceptions. The Jets had excessive grades for Smith, now 35, final offseason when the Seahawks made him obtainable in a commerce, so they seem prepared to chalk up final season to a dysfunctional scenario in Las Vegas.

It’s arduous to think about Smith again with the Jets after what occurred in 2015 — his jaw was fractured in a locker-room battle with a teammate — however the NFL strikes in unusual methods. Smith is owed $18 million by the Raiders, so he can be had for the veteran minimal.

As for Murray and Tagovailoa, they’re each 28 and have began 87 and 76 video games, respectively. Tagovailoa has a 4,000-yard passing season on his resume (2023) and Murray topped 3,700 yards in 4 completely different seasons. The Jets are anticipated to have some stage of curiosity in each.

Now for the draw back: They each misplaced their jobs final season, each have sturdiness questions (particularly Tagovailoa, together with his concussion historical past) and each are being paid monumental sums of cash to not play for the groups that drafted them.

Murray is owed $36.8 million by the Arizona CardinalsTagovailoa $54 million by the Miami Dolphins. What does that inform you?

There’s additionally the local weather difficulty. Tagovailoa is 0-5 when the kickoff temperature is 40 levels or much less; Murray is 1-1. Those November/December video games at MetLife Stadium can get nasty.

“I wish you could bottle Tua’s character and put it into Murray’s body,” mentioned the govt personnel, citing management considerations with the former No. 1 general decide.

That mentioned, the govt believes the Jets ought to signal Murray as a result of “you can win with him. There’s still enough talent there.”

Thing is, the Vikings could be his most popular group. Tagovailoa’s damage historical past makes him too dangerous, per the govt.

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Could be obtainable by commerce

Jacoby Brissett, Jarrett Stidham, Mac Jones, Tanner McKee, Spencer Rattler, Tyson Bagent, Will Levis, Davis Mills, Andy Dalton, Derek Carr

A fairly prolonged listing of present backups, huh? This speaks to the uncertainty surrounding the Jets’ scenario.

Jones in all probability has the most upside of this group, however the San Francisco 49ers have mentioned they don’t seem to be in buying and selling him. If they did, it could in all probability take at least a second-round decide. The compensation for the remainder of the choices would not be practically as a lot.

Brissett is smart as a result of he has began a full season for Reich (Colts, 2019) and his future with the Cardinals seems unsure. His starting document is barely 20-45, however he has performed respectable ball at occasions. After changing Murray in Week 6, he ranked first in completions, second in passing yards and third (tied) in passing touchdowns by means of the remainder of final season. Maybe he can be had for a Day 3 draft decide. Brissett is shut with Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, who is shut with Glenn. Connect the dots.

Carr, 34, who has talked about unretiring, loved a few of his greatest years when Musgrave was his offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. But there are huge questions: What’s the standing of his proper shoulder, so badly injured in 2024 that it pressured him to retire? How would he play after a full 12 months of inactivity? The New Orleans Saints nonetheless have their rights.

Levis, who had season-ending surgical procedure on his throwing shoulder final July, and McKee have one 12 months remaining on their rookie contracts. McKee performed nicely in two meaningless, late-season begins, elevating the Eagles’ asking worth.

Dalton, 38, who performed for Reich on the 2023 Carolina Pantherswould possibly be a fallback choice for a backup position.

No matter the way you look at it, it isn’t a great scenario for the Jets.

“There’s no panacea out there,” the govt personnel mentioned. “They’re going to have to get lucky.”