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

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

However maybe nothing fairly like the current.

The Jets are caught within the post-Aaron Rodgers/pre-(insert thriller title) period, which noticed three quarterbacks begin not less than 4 video games apiece final season — tied for essentially the most by any staff in a single season in NFL historical past.

They might have a brand new set of quarterbacks in 2026, and the seats on the desk are anticipated to begin filling up after free agent negotiating begins Monday (midday ET). The commerce interval is ongoing, however offers will not change into official till Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, the beginning of the brand new league yr.

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 perhaps subsequent yr’s draft.

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

They may not survive a “March for Arch,” so it is crucial they select the fitting veteran out of a mediocre group of choices and determine whether or not Ty Simpson — broadly considered the draft’s finest quarterback prospect not named Fernando Mendoza — is value New York’s second (sixteenth general) or third (thirty third) choose.

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

“You are going into the Black Gap,” a longtime personnel govt mentioned.

The distinctive factor about this yr’s veteran market is {that a} handful of longtime starters are anticipated to be wage cap casualties and shall be out there for the minimal wage ($1.3 million) as a result of they’re nonetheless owed huge ensures from their soon-to-be-former groups. Ah, sure, the great thing about offset language in contracts.

Except they signal Malik Willis, an unrestricted free agent anticipated to make not less than $20 million per yr, the Jets most likely will not must make a monetary splurge for a quarterback. Keep in mind, they owe $10 million assured to Justin Fields, who will go away a $22 million lifeless cap cost within the doubtless occasion of his launch.

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

“If it have been me having 5 first-round picks over the following two years, I would not be in a rush to [draft] a quarterback this yr, simply because you may have a lot flexibility on this yr’s draft,” ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid mentioned. “I imagine this yr they simply must get these pillar items, these blue-chip-type gamers that they should simply complement the roster that they’ve proper now.”

Reid believes New York, with 4 picks within the high 44, ought to fill wants aside from quarterback and “put together for dropping a younger quarterback within the scenario in 2027.”

Mougey mentioned he and Glenn have day by day discussions with offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach Invoice Musgrave, each new hires, on the quarterback plan. The plan have to be nuanced as a result of it is a multilayered problem. You are speaking about free brokers, gamers who may very well be lower and gamers who may very well be traded.

“I do really feel like there’s some good choices on the market,” Mougey mentioned.

Let us take a look at who could be out there to the Jets:

Free brokers

Carson Wentz, Jimmy Garoppolo, Marcus Mariota, Gardner Minshew, Willis

It isn’t a really enticing group. Willis is the star attraction as a result of he performed effectively in his cameo for the Green Bay Packers — 46 dropbacks that can lead to life-changing wealth. After doling out $30 million in ensures final yr for Fields, who flopped, the Jets may wish to keep away from betting large on an unknown two years in a row.

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

Reported cap cuts

Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno 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 out there in a commerce, so they seem keen to chalk up final season to a dysfunctional scenario in Las Vegas.

It is 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 might 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 degree of curiosity in each.

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

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

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

“I want you can bottle Tua’s character and put it into Murray’s physique,” mentioned the personnel govt, citing management issues with the previous No. 1 general choose.

That mentioned, the manager believes the Jets ought to signal Murray as a result of “you’ll be able to win with him. There’s nonetheless sufficient expertise there.”

Factor is, the Vikings may very well be his most popular staff. Tagovailoa’s damage historical past makes him too dangerous, per the manager.

play

Why Stephen A. would not need Kyler Murray to signal with the Jets

Stephen A. Smith sounds off on why he thinks the Jets ought to be Kyler Murray’s final possibility.

Might be out there by commerce

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

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

Jones most likely has essentially the most upside of this group, however the San Francisco 49ers have mentioned they don’t seem to be all in favour of buying and selling him. In the event that they did, it most likely would take not less than a second-round choose. The compensation for the remainder of the choices would not be almost as a lot.

Brissett is smart as a result of he began a full season for Reich (Colts, 2019) and his future with the Cardinals seems unsure. His beginning document is simply 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. Possibly he might be had for a Day 3 draft choose. Brissett is shut with Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Parcells, who’s shut with Glenn. Join the dots.

Carr, 34, who has talked about unretiring, loved a few of his finest years when Musgrave was his offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. However there are large questions: What is the standing of his proper shoulder, so badly injured in 2024 that it compelled him to retire? How would he play after a full yr of inactivity? The New Orleans Saints nonetheless have his rights.

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

Dalton, 38, who performed for Reich on the 2023 Carolina Panthers, could be a fallback possibility for a backup position.

Regardless of the way you have a look at it, it is not a great scenario for the Jets.

“There is no panacea on the market,” the personnel govt mentioned. “They will must get fortunate.”