Aaron Rodgers is no longer in the Jets’ plans, and the timing of his release will likely come at the start of the new league year. By the time the first wave of free agency is underway, more clarity will no doubt be in place regarding the team’s intentions under center. 
As expected, the team’s new decision-makers (GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn) informed Rodgers they will move in a different direction for 2025. That leaves the door open to another veteran being signed to compete for the starting gig. A draft investment is of course still on the table, with a trade up to the No. 1 slot being something to watch. More realistically, though, a modest signing on the free agent market looks to be in the team’s plans.
Both SNY’s Connor Hughes and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic (subscription required) write New York can be expected to pursue a middle-class option amongst the veteran quarterbacks set to be available in 2025. Former Jet Sam Darnold is the top name to watch at the position, but in terms of short-term investment options a number of other passers will be available. Pairing one of those with incumbent Tyrod Taylor would provide the Jets with a relatively stable floor in terms of QB play for next season.
Hughes and Rosenblatt both name Justin Fields and Carson Wentz as names to watch as it pertains to the Jets. The Steelers started Fields for the first six games of the 2024 campaign before benching him in favor of Russell Wilson. In spite of that decision, Pittsburgh is believed to prefer keeping the younger of the two signal-callers moving forward. If a reversal of that stance is to take place, the Jets will be one of the teams prepared to make Fields a strong offer on the open market.
Wentz’s last run as a starter came in 2022 with the Commanders. Since then, he has taken one-year backup deals with the Rams and Chiefs, making just five combined appearances in that span. The 32-year-old may welcome the chance to earn the staring gig on a pact with the Jets, but other destinations in a similar position will likely be available to him as well.
Hughes lists Marcus Mariota (who has been with four different teams in the past four years) as another potential target, while Rosenblatt adds that Kirk Cousins – should he be released by the Falcons – as a name to monitor. The latter could remain in place as Atlanta’s backup for 2025, something which would eliminate a notable option on the QB market. Taylor, meanwhile, has one year remaining on his pact and could boost his 2026 stock if he were to get the nod next season.
Adding a rookie at some point in April’s draft is something which is firmly receiving consideration by the Jets, per both reports. A move up to add Cam Ward would be quite pricey, but using Day 2 or 3 to add a developmental passer (not dissimilar to 2024 fifth-rounder Jordan Travis) would give the team another option for the future. With respect to the 2025 campaign, however, a major splash in free agency would come as a surprise at this point.
Just start Adrian Martinez for a year
Nah get the goat Nathan peterman
Adrian Martinez is low key kaepernick without the drama
Only a modest addition at QB while they start building a new program? Sure, fine, makes total sense. Carson Wentz? Please no.
Over Justin Fields? Wentz is the easy call. Wentz had some really bad OLs in WASH and bad ankles in INDY.
Anything over Fields is the correct call.
I’m not even a Fields believer, but I would take him easily over Wentz. Fields has dealt with bad lines, bad weapons, and in Chicago, bad coaching situations. But at least he can run the ball and win over teammates. Wentz left three organizations excited to get rid of him. You can make excuses about his situations, but if you actually watched him play, he was a disaster. He was only ever particularly good when he had a team around him so great that it won a super bowl with Nick Foles. There’s a reason Wentz was down to the Chad Henne/Blaine Gabbert gig this past year. I wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole.
Ah, sounds like you’re making excuses for Fields. I’d trust Wentz to scan the field and make plays with his arm much more than Fields. Running QBs arent very successful in the NFL. There’s a reason no other team than PIT took a chance on Fields, who then benched him.
My point was that if you’re going to make those excuses for Wentz, you have to look at what Fields has dealt with. If you trust Wentz to scan the field and make plays with his arm, I don’t think you watched much of his last couple of years as a starter. He’s also had severe turnover problems. He’s also 32 and was notably disliked by a couple of teams that had him. I’m not that big on Fields, nor am I that big on going with a run-first quarterback, but Wentz is a terrible option. I’d rather just hold onto Tyrod Taylor.
Wentz isn’t terrible. He’s had some quality NFL seasons. That season in WASH the OL was artrocious (I watched the games). Who knows what happened in INDY, maybe he told Irsay to fck off? Maybe Wentz has grown up and will be more mature.
Fields hasn’t had any decent NFL seasons, still struggles to throw 200 yards in a game, and not turn the ball over or take sacks. Viva la difference. No matter what Fields has dealt with, he has never shown the ability to read a field and make plays with his arm. Wentz has. If you want a middling QB that won’t drive you nuts, take Wentz.
You’re welcome to believe Carson Wentz is a remotely acceptable quarterback option in 2025. I will not be joining you.
Wentz is cooked. He’s definitely not a better option than Fields in 2025, no matter what you think of Fields’ passing abilities.
This has Gardner Minshew written all over it.
Let’s not jump to any conclusions until the Madden ratings are released.
God those are some horrendous options. Wonder what Tim Boyle is up to these days…
Whomever they hire better be experienced at – and good at – running for his life. That leaves Mariota and Fields still standing. For now.
If they take the job, they’ll be lying face first in the turf at MetLife Stadium eight games/season.
Adrian Martinez is low key kaepernick without the drama
Mariota can quit on a 2d team.
I like the article headline and if Adam is sarcastically implying that Rodgers wasn’t renowned for his “modesty”…I heartily approve 🙂
Wentz to Jets: yes please.
It just doesn’t seem like a successful NFL team can be built when you start with a modestly priced QB…
I think they see this as a building year, not a contending year. There will likely be better quarterback options next year.
Tank for Arch. But would Glenn survive if it’s 2 bad years?
According to people on this site, 12 different teams should tank for Arch, so I don’t think they’ll all be able to do it. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets take a shot on the second tier of QBs in this draft (Dart, Gabriel, Ewers, etc.) and maybe take a bigger shot next year.
I think they should roll with Tyrod and a rookie. Bring in another RB and ho Run heavy on offense -fits the game manager skills of Taylor and protects a young QB.
Darnold has been the correct answer since they drafted him, they just never set him up for success. He’d be my selection, but I doubt he’d want to come back to this mess.
Darnold is not good, he gets fraud checked pretty hard against good defenses. MIN had a pretty soft schedule outside of their own division and KoC has made just about every QB look good for a stretch of time. There was about 3 weeks where Josh Dobbs was setting the league on fire. The wheels fell off eventually but getting success out of him at all is impressive in itself. Not to mention having JJ really eases things.
Theres a reason why its up in the air what MIN is going to do after their QB put up 4300yds and 35 TDs.
This was supposed to be in reply to Padams comment above mine, not sure what happened there
Whats the point? You already have Tyrod whos the level of vet theyre looking to acquire. None of those options are enhancing the team in any way, i just dont see how aiming low and grabbing low is going to change anything.
Fields is not good, no matter how hard Fields truthers pretend he is. The wheels on the Wentz Wagon have fallen off for a while, though he would not be such a bad backup for a good QB that you can plug in a pinch. I can see Kirk being an solid option to start and/or have the guy you draft play behind if they can somehow get him for cheap.
Pickings are slim and they let their best bridge QB option go
Tyrod was quite good for years in Buffalo. Some time has passed since his days at a starter. Not sure he’s up for the weekly hits any more. Maybe he is. Tyrod Taylor has always been a cool cat, who takes good care of the ball.
Oh trust me, I like Tyrod as a person but im not delusional of what point of his career hes in lol I think hes in a tier similar enough to people like Wentz, Mariota, Fields, etc to the point where acquiring one of those guys makes 0 sense to me
Justin fields should be a jet imo.
If we are talking a ‘Modest’ addition look no further. RYAN TANNEHILL come on down, this is your time to shine.
I like Fields now that he isn’t in CHI. I personally thought he was getting better each season with the Bears. The last year he was there he started off well but got injured if memory serves me right. He came back from the injury and looked like he took a step back but he still played some decent games. With that roster I cannot help but feel that Fields would have won more games in CHI then Caleb won last year. But whatever I don’t care either way, just commenting because I see so many Fields comments.
Wentz gave everything he had in Indy, but those corn field people just threw him under the bus and blamed it all on him. He actually had really good stats in Indy, and won some tough games. The guy broke 2 ankles on the same play for those fans and all they did was mindlessly follow suit once management blamed it all on Wentz. (INDIANA-Where QB’s go to end their careers)
Anyhow, thanks for reading my ramblings.
I dunno…but Tyrod Taylor appears somewhat modest to me.
Give Jordan Travis a shot!
Darnold is a QB who needs tons of help – he isn’t a guy who brings your guys up, its vice versa.
He just isn’t a fit imo.
There is a place for Darnold but its on a team that doesn’t need as much.
Imagine how terrible Darnold would feel returning to NY only to fail again? Im not sure exactly what weight that has – but its non-zero.