We’re just days away from the start of the new league year in the NFL, and the New York Jets still don’t have a quarterback.
That’s to be expected, of course. Free agents cannot agree to deals for a few more days.
Still, for a Jets squad that was dead last in the league in all passing categories last season, stating the obvious feels more than worthy. Finding a new signal-caller will be a key focus this year.
Unfortunately, the options available to them aren’t exactly brimming with confidence.
Jets’ QB option tiers
New York has plenty of cap space and is expected to be drafting a signal-caller at some point in the 2026 NFL draft. Pairing a rookie with a proven veteran (or two) will be a key focus for the team this offseason.
And there are plenty of available options.
Best of a Bad Bunch Tier: Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Malik Willis, Kirk Cousins
There is no high-ceiling quarterback available on the open market for the Jets at the moment. This group, though, is the best of a bad bunch and should be able to help lead the team to competence.
Whether that’s seven, eight, or nine wins depends on the type of team New York surrounds them with.
Each player listed here has boom-or-bust potential. Malik Willis hasn’t been a full-time starter in the league, Cousins is nearing the end of his career, and the combination of Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa will be released within the coming days.
Each quarterback is a significant upgrade to what the Jets previously had. And if the team wants to compete in 2026, this is the route they should go.
Quality Dice Roll Tier: Jacoby Brissett, Derek Carr
Jacoby Brissett and Derek Carr are two quarterbacks with starting experience whose ceilings are far lower than those of the first group. Brissett played well in Arizona last season, albeit on a bad Cardinals roster.
Carr, meanwhile, has been away from the game but is contemplating a return. Both of these quarterbacks should be able to play well in a Jets offense that receives a boost of talent at wide receiver.
The ceiling, though, is arguably around six or seven wins regardless.
The Matt Schaub Tier: Tanner McKee, Tyson Bagent
Matt Schaub was a backup quarterback to Mike Vick before becoming a full-time starter and quality quarterback with the Houston Texans. The Jets do have a couple of young signal-callers who have been backups and could provide a similar jolt to Schaub.
Philadelphia’s Tanner McKee and Chicago’s Tyson Bagent have seen their markets increase in recent years, yet they are nothing more than clipboard holders for their team’s starters.
The time may be right for either quarterback to get a chance to be “the guy” for a franchise — particularly in the McKee-Stanford connection case — even with the gamble that comes with it.
What are we Doing Here? Tier: Geno Smith, Marcus Mariota
New York knows what it has with Geno Smith. After a career resurrection in Seattle, Smith led the league in interceptions last season on a Raiders squad that was the worst in football.
Moving to the Jets doesn’t really help the team must in 2026.
As for Marcus Mariota, the journeyman is nothing more than a career backup. If the Jets were going to bring in a rookie like Dante Moore, a move like this makes sense. But Mariota’s RPO-heavy scheme needs are different than what Reich has fundamentally wanted to do for years.
Neither addition should inspire much confidence if they come as starters.
The Justin Fields of Nick Foles Tier: Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz is easily the worst option here, considering his struggles over the last half-decade and concerns over leadership in the locker room.
His personal connection with Frank Reich should certainly help, but if the Jets end up going this route, it’s more because they feel they have a top pick within their reach next season.