Before Geno Smith was secured, just about every single available quarterback this offseason was tied to the New York Jets.
From Kyler Murray to Kirk Cousins, Gang Green left no stone unturned before opting to acquire their former second-round pick as a placeholder heading into the upcoming 2026 campaign.
A recent report, though, reveals how close the team was to acquiring another quarterback—and why those talks were rightfully shut down.
Jets inquired about Eagles backup
As reported by Rich Cimini of ESPN on his “Saturday Huddle” podcast, the Jets had inquired about the services for Philadelphia Eagles backup Tanner McKee, with Davis Mills and Mac Jones also in consideration.
The price, however, was too much for them to match.
“They looked into trading for guys like Tanner McKee and Davis Mills and Mac Jones,” Cimini said. “Those teams were asking for second-round picks for these guys, so, exorbitant prices.”
McKee was among the available quarterbacks who made sense for New York. He shares Stanford ties with Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich, and he still has some long-term upside at only 25 years old with a small sample of NFL success (five touchdowns to one interception).
But a second-round pick for any backup quarterback is a price no team will be willing to pay.
New York was better served by giving up a late-round pick for an experienced starter like Smith to be their penciled-in QB1, and using the draft to find a prospect to grow on the sidelines. There is also the possibility that Gang Green could sign another veteran, like Tyrod Taylor or Brett Rypien, for less than the price they would have had to pay for McKee.
In the end, draft asset management matters tremendously, and Jets general manager Darren Mougey correctly held on to picks for the future rather than mortgaging them on a question mark at quarterback.